Say No to Yes Men
Dr. Rikki Permenter
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
“Well, I didn’t want to ask you because I knew what you would say.” Everyone has two types of people in their lives: people who help them make good decisions and people who help them make bad decisions. Think about it - you know this to be true. I’m not really talking about large scale bad decisions more small stuff. Like, if you wanted to eat a whole package of Oreos you know who you would ask to help and who would try to get you to choose a healthier option. Or, if you want to vent about something and paint yourself as an innocent victim and the other person as a horrible offender, you know who will go along and who will be the voice of reason. You know these things, and you choose your company wisely.
In counseling I tend to have people say things like, “Well, I didn’t want to ask you because I knew what you would say.” often. They don’t say this because they don’t trust me or because we don’t have a close relationship. They say this because they know I’m a “no man”. Regardless of how they feel about it I say “no” when it is in their best interest - because it is my job.
Are you surrounded by “yes men”? Are you surrounded by people who rarely challenge you or seek to get you to do right when you’re doing wrong? I challenge you this week to consider who you surround yourself with and to find a “no man” to serve as your wise man from the Proverbs who gives advice.
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
