Loneliness
Exodus 6:10-12
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of this country.” But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?”
Think how hard it must have been for Moses to bring God’s message to Pharaoh when his own people had trouble believing it. Eventually the Hebrews believed that God had sent Moses, but for a time he must have felt very alone. Moses obeyed God, however, and what a difference it made! When the chances for success appear slim, remember that anyone can obey God when the task is easy and everyone is behind it. Only those with persistent faith can obey when the task seems impossible.
1 Kings 19:10
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Elijah thought he was the only person left who was still true to God. He had seen both the king’s court and the priesthood become corrupt. After experiencing great victory at Mount Carmel, he had to run for his life. Lonely and discouraged, he forgot that others had remained faithful during the nation’s wickedness. When you are tempted to think that you are the only one remaining faithful to a task, don’t stop to feel sorry for yourself. Self-pity will dilute the good you are doing. Be assured that even if you don’t know who they are, others are faithfully obeying God and fulfilling their duties.
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Loneliness is everywhere – many people feel cut off and alienated from others. Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation. We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed – in good times and bad. It is better to have one such friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend.
3 John 5
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.
In the church’s early days, traveling prophets, evangelists, and teachers (“the brothers”) were helped on their way by people like Gaius who housed and fed them. Hospitality is a lost art in many churches today. We should do well to invite more people for meals – fellow church members, young people, traveling missionaries, those in need, visitors. This is an active and much appreciated way to show your love. In fact it is probably more important today. Because of our individualistic, self-centered society, there are many lonely people who wonder if anyone cares whether they live or die. If you find such a lonely person, show him or her that you care!