"Why Don't I Have Any Friends?"

There are many similarities between a crowded city sidewalk and our Facebook news feed. People come walking at us like so many status updates. Some are funny. Some are downright disgusting. And the flow is seemingly endless.

There are millions of people on our planet. Billions actually. You'd think that everyone would have at least ONE friend, right?

I have heard it said that our friends choose us, we don't choose them. I think that's true. If it were the other way around, this world would be filled with billions of disappointed people.

If we have lots of friends we're obviously doing something right. At least it might seem that way. And if we don't have hardly any friends . . . well, we must be doing something to displease them.

I have seen people on Facebook, friends of mine, just ripping on someone. They are obviously not friends with each other. At least not now. But everyone else sees this ugly conversation going on and opinions are being swayed, one way or another. People are deciding "I don't think I want to be friends with that person. And they have never even met!

When we hurt someone and then don't do anything about it, chances are that relationship will die. If we hurt someone and they still remain our friend, what does that tell you? It tells me that there is some unconditional love going on. There is grace, perhaps a bit of understanding, and a WHOLE lot of compassion being handed out. THERE is a true friend. If you have a friend like that, you have a friend indeed!

Do you think Jesus had a lot of friends? He sure had a lot of people talking about Him! But I'm not sure he had tons of friends. He had quite a few enemies. Some even plotted to kill him . . . and did. Why? Why did Jesus have lots of enemies? God is love, right? Jesus should have loved them all. News flash: Jesus DID love them all. It's just that some of the people didn't like what Jesus had to say. And when things didn't go their way in their relationship with Jesus . . . they un-friended Him. And in a rather large and deadly way.

Facebook is not the place we should be venting our frustrations or calling others out. Send a private message. Arrange a meeting. But don't drag someone up and down the street in public. If we have a disagreement with someone we are told in the Bible that we should go to them one-on-one . .  FIRST!

"15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." - Matthew 18:15-17

We are supposed to imitate Christ in the things we say and do. We are to be just like Jesus in our relationships. So, are we? Can we pass the test the next time someone wrongs us? Probably not. But we are commanded to do so!

"29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29

That is NOT a suggestion. It is a command! Do you think these guys are listening to Jesus? Probably not.

If we acted more like Jesus in our conversations I think we'd have more friends than we have now. Or would we? Actually, the only way we could ALL get along is if we ALL acted like Jesus. There's a thought. I wonder what living in a world like THAT would be like.

It would be like . .  heaven. :)

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets