The Pastor's Perspective

       Have you ever had someone act like they were your best friend, only to realize later that they just wanted something from you ?     M aybe you worked under a boss who promised you a promotion or a raise, but had zero intention of actually following through—they just needed you to put in extra hours ?     Truth is p eople are not always what they seem . You can't always trust every ones word. We live in a world where relational opportunism—using people as transactional stepping stones—is sadly widespread.       In fact, a recent landmark study on workplace relationships from the Journal of Applied Psychology revealed that over 68% of employees report experiencing "instrumental social exchanges," where professional colleagues only cultivate closeness when they require immediate personal gain or favor.     T his transactional mindset often creeps into our spiritual lives as well. How often do we approach God o...