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The "Group Chat" Effect

  • The Law of Averages: You eventually become the "average" of the five people you spend the most time with.

  • Your Future Self: Your friends’ habits, discipline, and spiritual hunger act as a mirror of where you are headed.

  • No Neutrality: Relationships either build you up toward wisdom or drag you toward regret; there is no middle ground.

Wise Choices vs. Foolish Mistakes

  • The Core Principle: Proverbs 13:20 warns that walking with the wise makes you wise, but hanging out with "fools" leads to harm.

  • Defining a "Fool": In the Bible, a fool isn't someone with a low IQ; it is someone who lives as if God doesn't exist or matter.

  • Case Study 1 (Rehoboam): A young king who ignored wise elders to listen to his arrogant friends, leading his life and kingdom to a shipwreck.

  • Case Study 2 (Timothy): A young leader who "averaged up" by choosing a mentor (Paul) and a team of friends who shared a passion for God’s mission.

Mapping Your Spiritual Journey

  • Identify your "Rehoboam Circle": Spot friends who treat themselves as their own highest authority; care for them, but do not let them guide your decisions.

  • Intentionally Surround Yourself with Godly Influences:
    • Don't leave your circle to chance; join a small group in 2026 to surround yourself with people who pull you toward Jesus.
    • Choose one person from your group to be a prayer partner for regular encouragement and honesty.

  • The Bottom Line: Your friends aren’t just your circle — they chart your spiritual journey.