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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 5, FEBRUARY 1, 2004 A LONELY WORLD – PART 1 In Ecclesiastes 4:8 – 12, Solomon wrote, “There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him: and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” When Solomon wrote those words, he was acknowledging a need that every person has, and that is the need to be in a relationship with someone. I don’t mean a romantic relationship, but just the idea that man is a social being. Solomon was rich, wise, and had taken every opportunity to experience earthly pleasure, but he knew that loneliness was among the worst of human experiences. It is sad, but true, that in many ways we live in a cold, lonely world. Doors must be locked to keep out those who would injure and steal. A lot of people are almost imprisoned by fear; afraid to go out at night or to be alone. Others have experienced deep losses such as divorce or abandonment by a loved one. In all these situations our modern world reinforces the loneliness that all face. From death, to a job loss, to crime, we can find ourselves forced into ever smaller realms in which we know fewer and fewer people. In loneliness we face an empty life and uncertain future. Where does loneliness come from and how can it be changed? Those are questions we are going to spend some time trying to answer. 1. People are lonely when they place their emphasis upon material things. This society in which we live has sold people a bill of goods. It tells us that we will feel better if we have enough. If we have enough money, we will feel secure. If we have the latest car or the biggest house, than we will be satisfied. With all of the advertisements pointed in that direction, the majority of Americans seem to have bought into the idea that happiness is to be gained by having enough stuff. Sadly, so many times people who succeed in having money and an abundance of things find themselves lonely. I think of the prodigal son from Luke 15. In verses 11-15 of that chapter we find, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.” I believe the prodigal son learned that someone with money and the willingness to spend it will have a lot of friends more than willing to engage in the riotous living with them. But once the money is gone, so are the friends. How many times to we hear wealthy celebrities bemoaning the fact that they often can’t tell if people want to be their friends because they like them or because they like their money and prestige. A person can be surrounded by a lot of people and still be lonely. Having a lot of wealth doesn’t mean we will be happy. It doesn’t mean our kids will turn out well. It doesn’t mean we will have a strong marriage. Contentment lies in God, not in things. Paul had some things to say that need to be considered in this context. In 1 Tim. 6:6-10, we find, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The Holy Spirit, through Paul, was telling us the dangers of placing all of our emphasis upon money and things. Not only is a soul lost to God, but the individual experiences many sorrows. Think about it. How many fathers have pursued their careers vigorously and successfully, only to lose their families through neglect? How many mothers have worked to have more and more and to enjoy the “good life”, only to lose their children? How many marriages have been destroyed because of arguments over how to spend what little was left in the checkbook and credit cards were all run up to the limit? Surely, the love of money, the pursuit of material wealth as an end in itself, isolates people and causes loneliness. We will have more to say on this subject in the next Northern Kentucky Searcher, if the Lord wills. Greg Litmer
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