In the Pirkei Avos, verse 1:6 reads "make yourself a teacher, acquire yourself a friend and judge every person favorably." This verse has three components yet each component could stand on its own. Why were they put together? Is this simply a Reader's Digest verse?
Before looking at them together, let's look at each component. The first - "make yourself a teacher" has peculiarity in the verb "make" (asai, in Hebrew). Of course a teacher is important, so why not "find" one?
To me, the implication is clear. We are apt to be cafeteria-like in our approach. So "make" seems to have force here, as in, "see if you can make me.." We are to force ourselves to follow what our teachers say - even when we disagree. They have perspective on our situation which we lack.
"Acquire yourself a friend" also has peculiarity in the verb "acquire" (k'nai, in Hebrew). This verb has a financial sense, as in "buy" yourself a friend. Isn't that exactly the wrong way to get a friend?
To me, the implication is again clear. The long term qualities of a friend are similar to the long term qualities of a good investment. Just as finding a good investment requires patience and attention, so too does finding a good friend.
Finally, "judging every person favorably" requires an extraordinary shift in perspective. By viewing each person favorably, we are giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Although such a viewpoint is difficult to maintain, the rewards are significant and numerous. Along these lines, Schopenhauer said, "a man can do as he wills, but not will as he wills."
Each component of this verse is critical to "right-sizing" our egos. A teacher will make us take actions which are beneficial to us, but in our blind spot. A valuable friend will also challenge us to expand our perspectives. Finally, judging others favorably will remove logs from our eyes.
