#11-Here’s What Your Life Will Be Like In 5 Years

I can predict your future. I could follow you for 7 days and tell you how your future is going to shake out. How? You think I’d watch you but I’d watch your friends. Because I know you will copy your friends' behavior and habits. 

Your parents and immediate family had the greatest influence on you for the first several years of your life. That changed around middle school and then your friends became the primary influences.  

Men imitate the people they spend the most time with. If your friends listen to country music, you’ll listen to it, even if you hate it. You’ll change to the same political position as your friends. 

You imitate your atmosphere

That’s why it’s critical that you hang out with quality guys and keep away from the fools.

The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, knew this and gave this advice to his son:

“Walk with the wise and become wise, associate with fools and get in trouble..” - Proverbs 13:20

Here's my favorite story about what a good friend can add to a man's life. It's from a tv show called The West Wing. The scene is cool-a older guy is trying to make sure a younger guy knows he’ll always be there for him. 

“This guy's walkin' down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, "Hey you! Can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole, and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, "Father, I'm down in this hole; can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe, it's me. Can ya help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are ya stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.”

Those are the kind of guys you want for a friend, because we all end up in a hole at one time or another.

BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CHOOSING YOUR FRIENDS.

Then there's the other side, some guys can be your worst enemy. Everyone is not loyal and everyone can't be trusted.

The Big 3 for me is I’m not friends with a guy who has a bad temper, doesn’t treat women with respect, or has a reputation for stirring up trouble. You need to come up with the Big 3 you won’t tolerate in the guys who are close to you. 

“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33

CONTINUALLY RE-EXAMINE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.

Now comes the part most guys miss, choosing a friend isn’t a fire and forget deal. You need to re-examine your friendships because people change. Another big reason is it sometimes takes time to discover a man isn’t who you thought he was. 

Ask 3 questions to evaluate relationships

1. How do I feel after interacting with this guy? Do I leave feeling energized/inspired or drained/confused

2. How does this guy respond to criticism? By embracing it and showing gratitude or dismissing it and becoming angry?

3. Does this man accept responsibility or deflect it?

Two quotes I want you to remember about how your friends shape your future

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with” -Jim Rohn

“Your friends will always determine the quality and direction of your life.” -Andy Stanley into your life 

One Small Step For Men..

3 types of people to surround yourself with, the inspired, the excited, the grateful.