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You Are Not Alone
April 27, 2013

Last week, we saw how even prophets of God can feel alone. Sometimes when people feel alone and have no hope, they commit desperate acts of evil to spite their despair and we recently saw an example of this in Boston. Having written that last sentence, I want everyone who reads this to understand I agree with the statement made by the uncle of the bombers who said that they were "losers, not being able to settle themselves, thereby hating anyone who did." I wonder if the lives of the bombers might have taken a different course if they could have figured out how to fit in. As a Christian, I can use the example of the new commandment given by Jesus as way to escape feeling alone. The bombers were followers of Islam and while the events of 9-11 cause many Americans to have negative views of Islam, the teachings of Islam show peace and community service as paths to follow. I'll leave the theological analysis of Islam to those who are followers of Islam, and for those who may want an overview of teachings, Wikianswers provides a synopsis of teachings. According to the Wikianswers page, some of the teachings of Islam would overlay nicely with the new commandment given by Jesus, and both have an essence of doing works or deeds to benefit others. From the Wikianswers page, it shows doing good deeds can benefit the self and family. Maybe this is a consideration overlooked by Christians, so how might following the new commandment and loving others as Jesus loved us and living a life of service cause us to not feel alone? It begins with a proverb from long ago.

Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

To have friends, we have to be friendly. This means we have to be kind even when others are not. We have to smile and be polite. We have to be willing to help others as much as we might want to be helped. It's not alway easy to be friendly but it is something we must do. Willing to be a friend yet without friends can be lonely. As we understand that friends help each other, if we are willing to help others we can find a way to make friends. There are many non-profit organizations that do good for the community. For those willing to be a friend yet without friends, volunteering with one of these organizations can help make introductions with others. For those looking for volunteer opportunities, and needing help making a connection, there are websites that can help, such as volunteer.gov, volunteermatch.org, and dosomething.org. The neat thing about volunteering with an organization for those who are willing to be a friend yet without friends is that it can allows for networking. For those looking for work or a different job, sometimes expanding a personal network opens opportunities. Even when being friendly is hard, those who become known as a hard worker while volunteering, will see opportunities increase because when opportunities come open, most people think about somebody they know as being right for that opening, and that right person could be the person who is willing to be a friend yet without friends.

Matthew 19:23-30
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Jesus was showing that giving of ourselves to others and forsaking what we have is a path to follow to increase. Jesus shows that as we follow him in the new commandment, we will receive. While the verses from Matthew show our spiritual reward after the resurrection, the principle can apply now. Jesus also taught the greater blessing came from giving and this was taught by the first century apostolic church.

Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The more we realize that it is more blessed to give than to receive and that we will receive much more than we give, we can begin to see why being friendly is just the first step. We are not alone and there are so many opportunities to be included with others and as are friends to those who show themselves to be friendly, and as we help others we celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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