What Friends Are For

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Thursday, July 10, 2014

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
— 2 Timothy 2:22

One morning after one of our services at Harvest Christian Fellowship, a young woman walked up and asked if I would pray for her about a relationship she was in.

Evangelist Greg Laurie spoke on the subject of happiness along with a Gospel message during the first night of Harvest America at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Sept. 28, 2013. | (Photo: Harvest Ministries)

"What kind of a relationship is it?" I asked.

"It's a relationship with a guy."

"Let me ask you a question. Is this guy that you are in a relationship with a Christian?"

"Well," she said, "I . . . think he is. Actually, I'm not really sure if he is or not."

I said, "You know what? I am not going to pray that God will heal your relationship. I am going to pray that God will give you the courage to terminate the relationship. That is what needs to happen. Here you are in church, and you are struggling and having a hard time with a guy who doesn't walk with the Lord."

As we talked further, it was apparent that this was exactly what was happening. The relationship was dragging her down spiritually.

Many times we will pray for the Lord to fix something, and He will say, "You are in a place you don't belong. You are hanging out with people you don't belong with. This is bringing about many of your problems."

In 2 Timothy 2:22 we read, "Pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" (NLT). Are you enjoying the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts? Or, are you hanging around with people who are dragging you down spiritually?