It is so important to choose our friends and associates wisely. Here are two stories from the Bible about friends:

Luke 5:17-26 I’ll summarise
Jesus was teaching the word in a house in and the power of the Lord was present to heal. People were listening to him from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. Some people brought a man who was paralyzed to see Jesus to heal him, but they could not get through the crowd. Determined to get healing for their friend, and in faith, they proceeded to climb to the roof of the house, destroy part of SOMEONE ELSE’S ROOF and lower their friend in front of Jesus for healing.

Now this part is very important when we consider the people we hang around.
  Verse [20] “When He saw THEIR faith(emphasis added), He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

and after being questioned by the Pharisees(among themselves) about his authority to forgive sins, he spoke to the man telling him to rise up, take his mat, and walk! This man received healing because of the FAITH OF HIS FRIENDS and because of their dedication and conviction to fight for his healing.

Another story of consequence is found in I Kings 12:1-17.

King Rehoboam, the son of wise Solomon, was being crowned king in front of all the people but there was a challenge to his authority by one his father had banished before. The people came to Rehoboam and begged him to lighten their load, saying his father had been a demanding task master and they were tired.

Rehoboam went first to his Father’s advisors who advised him to be a servant of the people in that moment so that they would serve him faithfully for a lifetime.

He decided next to speak to the friends he had grown up with. They pride fully told him to oppress the people further to prove his strength so he would be respected and feared.

Rehoboam decided to listen to the advice of his friends and in so doing lost eleven out of twelve tribes of Israel who would have served him. His families tribe is the only one who remained loyal to his leadership.

He lost an ENTIRE KINGDOM because of which friends he surrounded himself with

Social science has shown that we become like the six people we most surround ourselves with. We must be careful because our very futures in Christ can be furthered or hindered, and sometimes even destroyed because of the people we choose to associate with.

Just as Solomon says: Proverbs 13:20 NKJV
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

Good friends will further you and lift you in Christ. Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
[17] As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Finally we must be aware that not everyone who acts as a friend is a friend. We must use discernment and wisdom.
Proverbs 27:6 NKJV
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”