26TH JANUARY
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”
Think of people’s loneliness as an invitation from God to reach out to them!
Recent surveys portray an alarming picture of an increasingly lonely generation. The Times recently posted an article about loneliness in our society. The opening paragraph was: “Loneliness Kills”. Research shows that people have a very large number of ‘friends’ on social media but an increasing sense of loneliness.
What is loneliness? Loneliness is a state of mind that causes people to feel abandoned, empty, alone and unwanted. A person doesn’t necessarily have to be alone to feel lonely. Instead, it is the perception of being alone and isolated that matters most. For example, a teenage student might feel lonely despite being surrounded by his classmates.
There’s nothing wrong with having friends on social media, but it is no substitute for real, face-to-face human interactions and friendships. We were created for friendship with God and with one another.
Start seeing people’s loneliness as a spiritual invitation to share about Jesus, the greatest friend anyone could have. Start seeing people’s loneliness as an opportunity for you to pray! Start seeing people’s loneliness as an opportunity for you to be a great friend!
MAKE IT PERSONAL
How are you going to reach out to someone who is lonely this week?