As Christians, we are called to love others, but that doesn’t mean we should stay close to everyone. The Bible guides us to be wise in our relationships, recognizing that some may not have a positive influence on us. While we should show love and kindness, we also need to protect our hearts and minds from harmful influences.
There are times when it’s necessary to distance ourselves from certain people, even if it’s difficult. Not everyone we encounter will support our faith or encourage us to grow spiritually. Some individuals might lead us away from God, causing us to stumble in our walk with Him. The Bible warns us about being careful with who we allow in our lives.
We are also encouraged to avoid bad company that can corrupt good character. If someone consistently leads us into sin, it’s crucial to make a wise decision about how much influence they have over us. Our spiritual well-being should always come first, even if it means separating ourselves for a while. The Bible teaches us that peace is important, and sometimes stepping back brings that peace.
When faced with these tough choices, it helps to remember the Bible verses. They serve as reminders of God’s guidance in maintaining healthy relationships. Let these verses help you make decisions that protect your faith, your well-being, and your walk with God.
Preachers Quotes
“You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.” – Dr. Henry Cloud
“God will sometimes end a relationship for your protection. Don’t chase after what He’s saving you from.” – T.D. Jakes
“There are some people you need to break up with, not because they are terrible, but because they are toxic to your purpose.” – Steven Furtick
“If someone is leading you away from Christ instead of closer to Him, it’s time to let them go.” – John Piper
“When you let go of negative people, positive ones appear.” – Joel Osteen
“The right relationships will draw you closer to God. The wrong ones will push you away.” – Rick Warren
“Walking with God sometimes means walking away from people who refuse to walk with Him.” – Charles Stanley
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Bad Friends
Bible Verses About Removing People from Your Life
Proverbs 13:20 – The wisdom of choosing the right company.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” – Proverbs 13:20
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad company corrupts good character.
“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the one who avoids bad company.
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” – Psalm 1:1
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do not associate with angry people.
“Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.” – Proverbs 22:24-25
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – Avoid people who have evil hearts.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Titus 3:10 – Reject divisive people.
“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition.” – Titus 3:10
Matthew 10:14 – Shake the dust off your feet.
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” – Matthew 10:14
Romans 16:17 – Avoid those who cause division.
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” – Romans 16:17
Matthew 7:6 – Do not give what is holy to dogs.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” – Matthew 7:6
Psalm 101:4 – A perverse heart shall depart from me.
“A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.” – Psalm 101:4
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Withdraw from disorderly people.
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Proverbs 14:7 – Stay away from fools.
“Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” – Proverbs 14:7
1 Peter 3:11 – Seek peace and pursue it.
“Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.” – 1 Peter 3:11
1 John 2:19 – Some people leave because they are not of us.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” – 1 John 2:19
Proverbs 4:14 – Do not walk in the way of the wicked.
“Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.” – Proverbs 4:14
Psalm 26:4-5 – Avoid those who practice deceit.
“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.” – Psalm 26:4-5
Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man sows strife.
“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
Proverbs 6:16-19 – The Lord hates those who cause discord.
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” – Proverbs 6:16-19
3 John 1:11 – Do not imitate what is evil.
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” – 3 John 1:11
Proverbs 19:19 – Avoid a hot-tempered person.
“A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.” – Proverbs 19:19
Matthew 18:15-17 – If someone refuses correction, treat them as an outsider.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” – Matthew 18:15-17
Proverbs 20:19 – Do not associate with a gossip.
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” – Proverbs 20:19
2 John 1:10-11 – Do not receive those who bring false teaching.
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” – 2 John 1:10-11
Psalm 119:115 – Depart from evildoers.
“Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!” – Psalm 119:115
Luke 6:22 – Blessed are those who separate from the wicked.
“Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.” – Luke 6:22
Isaiah 52:11 – Depart from what is unclean.
“Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the Lord.” – Isaiah 52:11
Psalm 101:7 – The deceitful will not dwell in God’s house.
“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” – Psalm 101:7
Proverbs 21:9 – It is better to live alone than with a contentious person.
“Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” – Proverbs 21:9
Proverbs 21:19 – Avoid a quarrelsome person.
“Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.” – Proverbs 21:19
1 Corinthians 5:11 – Do not keep company with certain people.
“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11
Proverbs 29:22 – Avoid those who stir up strife.
“An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.” – Proverbs 29:22
Psalm 34:14 – Depart from evil and seek peace.
“Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:14
Proverbs 24:1 – Do not envy the wicked.
“Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them.” – Proverbs 24:1
Job 11:14 – Put away wickedness from your hands.
“If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents.” – Job 11:14
Psalm 37:9 – The wicked will be cut off.
“For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.” – Psalm 37:9
Psalm 37:27 – Depart from evil and do good.
“Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.” – Psalm 37:27
Proverbs 3:31 – Do not choose the ways of the wicked.
“Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.” – Proverbs 3:31
Isaiah 1:16 – Cease to do evil.
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.” – Isaiah 1:16
2 Corinthians 6:17 – Come out from among them.
“Therefore, ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’” – 2 Corinthians 6:17
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Putting Others Down
What Does The Bible Say About Removing People From Your Life
The Bible teaches us that while we should love others, there are times when we need to remove people from our lives for our spiritual growth and peace. Not everyone we meet is meant to stay in our journey, and some people can pull us away from God. The Bible gives wisdom on when and why we should distance ourselves from certain individuals.
One important reason to remove someone from your life is if they lead you into sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” This means that if you surround yourself with people who constantly encourage sinful behavior, it will eventually affect you. God wants us to walk in righteousness, and sometimes that means stepping away from relationships that do not honor Him.
Another reason to distance yourself from certain people is when they are toxic or harmful. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns, “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.” People who are always angry, negative, or full of hate can influence us in a bad way. Instead of bringing us closer to God, they can fill our hearts with bitterness and strife.
The Bible also teaches that we should avoid those who cause division and strife. Romans 16:17 says, “Note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” Some people always bring conflict, gossip, and negativity. These kinds of relationships drain our energy and keep us from focusing on God’s peace.
Sometimes, God removes people from our lives to protect us or to help us grow. It may be painful, but we must trust that He has a better plan. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” Even when we do not understand why certain people leave, we can trust that God is leading us toward something better.
While we should always pray for others and show love, we must also use wisdom in choosing who we allow into our inner circle. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” God calls us to be surrounded by people who strengthen our faith and encourage us to walk in His ways.