Denny answers:
If God says something is wrong, it's wrong - no matter how many people are doing it.
No matter how many other kids do something wrong, that doesn't make it right. If the Bible says something is wrong, or your parents tell you not to do it, then you shouldn't do it. Sometimes other kids seem to get away with doing wrong things, but God is always watching.
What if your friends started throwing rocks at your neighbor's windows. Would it be okay because they were all doing it? No! It's wrong, even if only one of them did it. So it also would be wrong for you to join them. What if no one caught them, and they never got punished? Would it be okay then? No! Something is right or wrong, period, no matter how many kids are doing it.
If your friends try to get you to do wrong things, make new friends. The Bible says, "Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer" (Proverbs 13:20, NCV). A foolish friend will get you into trouble by the bad choices he makes. Find friends who will help you do the right things that please God. Your parents can help you.
God always sees what we do. Getting God's approval is more important than our friends' approval. God knows when you do something wrong, even if your parents or teachers never find out. God is pleased when we make the right choice, especially when it's hard. When Jesus was living on earth, He was tempted to do wrong, so He understands how we feel. But unlike us, Jesus never chose to do wrong. Find out how you can follow Jesus - not other kids who are doing wrong.
Bible Truth
- "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3, NKJV).
- "In the Lord's name, I tell you this. Do not continue living like those who do not believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. They do not understand, and they know nothing, because they refuse to listen. So they cannot have the life that God gives. They have lost all feeling of shame, and they use their lives for doing evil. They continually want to do all kinds of evil. But what you learned in Christ was not like this" (Ephesians 4:17-20, NCV).
- "But if you don't want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. . . . As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Go back to:
