The coronavirus pandemic, major rioting, fires, wars, and natural disasters caused many to consider 2020 a year to forget. The effects of this pandemic damaged economies all over the world and intensified the negative conditions in poorer countries. Regulations countering the pandemic included quarantines and, in some cases, months of isolation. Some communities even enforced stringent curfews confining families to their homes for long periods of time. But one of the most damaging effects on many individuals was that of separation from face-to-face socialization leading to severe loneliness.
Loneliness has always been a social problem, but the problem has become so severe in Japan that the government established a “Minister for Loneliness”! The Independent reported: “Japan has appointed a minister for loneliness following a recent rise in the number of suicides and the coronavirus pandemic’s exacerbation of the issue” (Clea Skopeliti, Independent.co.uk, February 25, 2021, 15:40).
Is loneliness one of your serious problems? If so, you need to solve that problem and experience success, happiness, contentment, and hope. Your Bible gives multiple solutions. One of the major solutions to loneliness is the help of a faithful friend. You need to know the way to true love and peace. And you need to know Who can be your greatest friend!
Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!
We all need friends, but the national shutdowns due to the coronavirus have interfered with normal socialization and fellowship. The coronavirus pandemic caused many governments to virtually “shut down” cities, states, provinces, and whole nations. In April 2020, BBC News reported: “Coronavirus: The world in lockdown in maps and charts.” The report described “How the world shut down. The approaches to dealing with coronavirus across the world have been wide-ranging to say the least. In Colombia the days that you’re allowed to leave the house depend on the number of your national ID card; in Serbia a designated dog-walking hour was introduced; and in Belarus the president has gone against medical advice, recommending vodka and saunas as a way to stay safe. Some of the more common approaches have seen governments issue recommendations on social distancing for part or all of the country, while others have acted to restrict all non-essential internal movement. The latter is often called a lockdown” (BBC.com).
BBC News indicated that starting in April of 2020, more than 70 countries introduced nation-wide lockdowns, including France, Germany, the UK, Russia, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and New Zealand. The restrictions in some areas resulted in strict isolation affecting the mental health of many. The nation of Japan, facing an unprecedented increase in death and suicide in pandemic-stricken 2020, instituted an aggressive solution to loneliness; it appointed a Minister for Loneliness. The Independent reported: “Japan has appointed a minister for loneliness following a recent rise in the number of suicides and the coronavirus pandemic’s exacerbation of the issue” (Clea Skopeliti, Independent.co.uk, February 25, 2021, 15:40).
On today’s program, we’ll discuss principles of friendship and biblical examples of both faithful and unfaithful friendships. We will also discuss the Bible’s awesome revelation of One who can be our greatest Friend!
Ancient King David, before he became king, was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king after King Saul. You can read about that in 1 Kings the sixteenth chapter. Most of you know the story of David’s victory over the giant Goliath and his subsequent military victories. King Saul was jealous and even tried to kill David two times. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who would ordinarily be considered the next king, became David’s best friend. In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan affirms to David that he will do all he can to protect David from King Saul’s anger, and pledges his friendship with David. 1 Samuel 20:16:
“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘Let the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.’”
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
This rare example of faithful and loving friendship was in the context of God’s blessing. Remember the remarkable statement in Acts 13:22 regarding David’s character:
“And when He [God] had removed him, [King Saul] He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”
Yet, King David knew that his closest fellowship was with God, who had blessed him and delivered him through numerous trials. When betrayed by his old friend Ahithophel, David reflected in Psalm 55:16,
“As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”
My friends, you and I
Loneliness has always been a social problem, but the problem has become so severe in Japan that the government established a “Minister for Loneliness”! The Independent reported: “Japan has appointed a minister for loneliness following a recent rise in the number of suicides and the coronavirus pandemic’s exacerbation of the issue” (Clea Skopeliti, Independent.co.uk, February 25, 2021, 15:40).
Is loneliness one of your serious problems? If so, you need to solve that problem and experience success, happiness, contentment, and hope. Your Bible gives multiple solutions. One of the major solutions to loneliness is the help of a faithful friend. You need to know the way to true love and peace. And you need to know Who can be your greatest friend!
Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!
We all need friends, but the national shutdowns due to the coronavirus have interfered with normal socialization and fellowship. The coronavirus pandemic caused many governments to virtually “shut down” cities, states, provinces, and whole nations. In April 2020, BBC News reported: “Coronavirus: The world in lockdown in maps and charts.” The report described “How the world shut down. The approaches to dealing with coronavirus across the world have been wide-ranging to say the least. In Colombia the days that you’re allowed to leave the house depend on the number of your national ID card; in Serbia a designated dog-walking hour was introduced; and in Belarus the president has gone against medical advice, recommending vodka and saunas as a way to stay safe. Some of the more common approaches have seen governments issue recommendations on social distancing for part or all of the country, while others have acted to restrict all non-essential internal movement. The latter is often called a lockdown” (BBC.com).
BBC News indicated that starting in April of 2020, more than 70 countries introduced nation-wide lockdowns, including France, Germany, the UK, Russia, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and New Zealand. The restrictions in some areas resulted in strict isolation affecting the mental health of many. The nation of Japan, facing an unprecedented increase in death and suicide in pandemic-stricken 2020, instituted an aggressive solution to loneliness; it appointed a Minister for Loneliness. The Independent reported: “Japan has appointed a minister for loneliness following a recent rise in the number of suicides and the coronavirus pandemic’s exacerbation of the issue” (Clea Skopeliti, Independent.co.uk, February 25, 2021, 15:40).
On today’s program, we’ll discuss principles of friendship and biblical examples of both faithful and unfaithful friendships. We will also discuss the Bible’s awesome revelation of One who can be our greatest Friend!
Ancient King David, before he became king, was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king after King Saul. You can read about that in 1 Kings the sixteenth chapter. Most of you know the story of David’s victory over the giant Goliath and his subsequent military victories. King Saul was jealous and even tried to kill David two times. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who would ordinarily be considered the next king, became David’s best friend. In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan affirms to David that he will do all he can to protect David from King Saul’s anger, and pledges his friendship with David. 1 Samuel 20:16:
“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘Let the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.’”
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
This rare example of faithful and loving friendship was in the context of God’s blessing. Remember the remarkable statement in Acts 13:22 regarding David’s character:
“And when He [God] had removed him, [King Saul] He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”
Yet, King David knew that his closest fellowship was with God, who had blessed him and delivered him through numerous trials. When betrayed by his old friend Ahithophel, David reflected in Psalm 55:16,
“As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”
My friends, you and I