The other day, I was reading an article entitled “Being Too Busy For Friends Won’t Help Your Career” by Neal J. Roese, a Professor of Marketing at Northwestern’s School of Management. The article was all about how friendships can not only help enhance one’s life but they can also help advance one’s career. For the most part, I agreed with the contents of the article. But one part in particular caught my attention and gave me pause.
Towards the end of the article, Professor Roese presents 5 pieces of advice to make friendships more meaningful. One of those pieces of advice was to “ask for your friends’ perspectives.”
None of those pieces of advice included asking for God’s perspective FIRST (or at all).
This is a hugely important omission because we see examples in the Bible where folks in close relationship with others can steer them astray. Eve enticed Adam to sin (husband-wife relationship). Delilah masterminded Sampson’s demise (boyfriend-girlfriend relationship). Rebecca conspired with Jacob to steal Esau’s inheritance (mother-son relationship). And Jesus had at least two of his disciples (Peter and Judas) challenge Him to abandon his purpose (mentor/friendship relationship).
At the end of the day, we need to be careful who we listen to. Just because someone is close to you doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you. Likewise, just because someone wants what’s best for you doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you.
Seek God’s perspective FIRST. Your friends may either confirm it or contradict it, but at least you’ll be clear what the proper perspective is.
God bless,
J.W.
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