#1: being prayerfully concerned for those who have mixed up their priorities by placing school above friends

Despite what that brochure said and despite what that $23,000 a year check from your parents to Ouachita implied, you did not come to Ouachita to study. You came to make friends. Why else would Ouachita offer enough extra-curricular activities for you to remain free time and sleeptimeless year-round? And with a library that closes at 11:00? Puh-lease! Every college student knows that no valuable homeworking occurs before midnight.

Oh, Ouachita, we see through your facade. Your ruse is clever, but we have the Word on our side. Liberal Arts, Schmiberal Arts, here at OBU, we are a Hebrews 10:25 people. I don't see anything about attending class in that passage. But through looking at the cultural context and crossing that 'ole principlizing bridge, one can clearly see that this verse leaves room--dare I say even encourages--2:00AM Taco Bell runs. And just in case that's not enough to convince you, try Acts 4:34-35 on for size. Many a time last year, I chose to forgo completing a reading assignment in order to have some DMC (deep meaningful conversation) with a troubled peer at Starbucks. That, my friends, is the body of Christ at work.

However, every year there are those unfortunate students who lose sight of the path, who mix up their priorities by placing grades above fellowship. You have probably had a friend who struggled in this way. At first the sign were subtle--a shady-buttoned phone call, a missed Noon Day--but then they worsened. Soon your friend started sitting at the anti-social cubbies in the library and actually turned down camping at The Rock in order to work on a research paper. Now we who stick to the narrow path realize that caring about grades more than 24/7 fellowship is darn near idolatry. I mean, who told him that he needed to make all A's and B's? I suspect it was that prideful sin nature coming back to haunt him once again. For, if his faith were truly strong, he would trust God to provide him with other forms of financial aid when he loses that scholarship or goes on academic probation. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to rescue a friend who has mixed up her priorities. You should not hesitate to hide her textbooks or turn off her alarm in order to remind her how liberating skipping class feels. However, usually the most effective way to confront a stumbling friend is through assertive, face-to-face intervention. You may have to kidnap him in the middle of the night and take him Waffle House for the conversation if worst comes to worst. But just remember, you are doing this out of love.