“We need to visit this new sushi restaurant. I once met the owner because my good friend, Sally and her husband, are very close to him. They go there all the time, in fact, they even closed the restaurant down for his birthday!”
“Wow! That’s impressive! Maybe I should go there and say, ‘Hi, I’m a friend of yours, who is a friend of Sally!’ “
“Ha! Somehow I don’t think that will work!”
Name dropping is frequently used in personal interactions and business. I use it quite frequently and when I first visited this sushi restaurant and mentioned my friend Sally’s name, the chef-owner flashed a big smile and our level of service went up several notches. Most of the time, it is helpful but occasionally it may backfire. The Bible records a humorous encounter with a group of charlatans who paid a humiliating price for name dropping.
A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
Acts 19:13-16 (NLT)
At times, it is important to name drop but be careful whose name you use! It may get you into a popular sushi restaurant but if you take God’s Name in vain, you may suffer dire consequences!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 