The Objectivity of a True Friend
Have you noticed how it is hard for most of us to take advice from another person? The other person may be a very good friend who is really trying to help us, but we find it difficult to see his or her point of view. Why does that happen?
I think the key to this situation is pride and a lack of objectivity. First of all, we think we have studied ourselves, and we know ourselves better than anyone else. Therefore, we do not need to listen to someone else tell us what to do. However, that is not the case many times. Our view of ourselves is clouded by the lack of objectivity. We can't see how are are doing things. We can see that we are getting angry or being defensive. We rationalize that we are doing just fine, when we are not doing well at all. It is a serious problem. It keeps us from progressing in our lives to be all Jesus wants us to be.
The cure for this is the objectivity of a true friend. A true friend will tell us the truth. He will not want to hurt us, but to help us. He will not be too harsh or too vague, but he will give us a clear of picture of what is going on with our words and our actions. If we will seek their advice and listen without the pride, the Holy Spirit can teach us and mold us into the image of Christ. That is what God wants, and that is what a true friend wants, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 126-128 and I Corinthians 10:19-33.
I think the key to this situation is pride and a lack of objectivity. First of all, we think we have studied ourselves, and we know ourselves better than anyone else. Therefore, we do not need to listen to someone else tell us what to do. However, that is not the case many times. Our view of ourselves is clouded by the lack of objectivity. We can't see how are are doing things. We can see that we are getting angry or being defensive. We rationalize that we are doing just fine, when we are not doing well at all. It is a serious problem. It keeps us from progressing in our lives to be all Jesus wants us to be.
The cure for this is the objectivity of a true friend. A true friend will tell us the truth. He will not want to hurt us, but to help us. He will not be too harsh or too vague, but he will give us a clear of picture of what is going on with our words and our actions. If we will seek their advice and listen without the pride, the Holy Spirit can teach us and mold us into the image of Christ. That is what God wants, and that is what a true friend wants, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 126-128 and I Corinthians 10:19-33.