Loneliness is an American Epidemic
Social isolation is killing more and more Americans every year. Loneliness has been linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression and many other debilitating health conditions. It has triggered a record suicide rate and been responsible for mass murder at unprecedented levels. People with no hope are more likely to turn to drugs as an escape from the throws of loneliness. No longer is the kitchen table a place to gather and talk. Today's fractured family seldom eats together, rather they make their own way without family support. Young people build self-esteem by how many likes their last selfie got. They are up one day, down the next. They spend millions of dollars every year to solve this bipolar condition when a healthy dose of family love is free and lasts a lifetime. Over half of American adults are unmarried, the great cohabitation experiment without commitment has failed. The first commandment in the Bible is a commitment to marriage.“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”(Ge.2:24) Of those Americans that remain married, 30% are strained or on the verge of divorce.
The loneliness epidemic is a direct result of the breakdown in biblical values and sincere concern for one another. It exposes the selfish indifference of our polluted culture. No longer do we consider the other person first, Its all about me! The losers in this situation are both the other person and me. Jesus left us with a remarkable promise if we will simply put the other person first. “Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!”(Matt. 25:34-40) There are two winners in this biblical promise, the other person and me.
We all fit into one of these two categories: the person that needs a friend, and the person that can be a friend. Being a friend is more than exchanging photographs, it's personal and takes effort. Being a good friend is a lifelong endeavor. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov.18: 2) There is comfort in knowing that no matter how difficult life treats us there is one friend that will never forsake us. “ be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you. (Heb.13:5) For more about relationships read “Beam me up Commander” it's free.
