Were in this crazy series called hashtag struggling where we talk about five things that were feeling but not hashtagging on social media. Last week we learned that contentment was something were always struggling with how understated it is in our highlight reel of social media. Contentment, we said, was a struggle because were looking at other peoples social media thinking that the grass is greener, the cars are fancier, the dinners tastier than our own bap and kimchi. This morning I want to look at the struggling of relationships. I think in the 21st century our relationships have become subject to incredible tension and therefore struggles. Like, I dont think I actually have conversations with people over the phone anymore. All my conversing is mostly done over email and text message. So when Im actually conversing with somebody and having a conversation, I dont understand what theyre saying to me, but when that person sends me an email or a text message, it makes so much sense. Its like Im living in a world where I can get a text from somebody I know with just two words and feel instantly connected. Those two words being, Yo man. I love how we can connect using technology, at the same time, I think we struggle with relationships because of it and are often distracted from what God intended through it. I want to go to our memory verse for this morning, it comes from John 13:34-35, It goes like this: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Technology has set us on a trend where the term friend is evolving. Heres what I mean, back a few years ago when I had a Facebook account and all that jazz, I had a little under 1,000 friends. And I wasnt one of those people that randomly add people to my Facebook if I had met them at Starbucks, either. I had, at some point or another been friends with these people. I read somewhere, I dont know where or remember where, that the average adult Facebook user has about 328 friends on Facebook. But when you ask the average American about whether or not they have any close friends, they would say they have 2 close friends, on average and 25% say they dont have any close friends. I know right, its kind of nuts when you think about your own friends listlike how many of those friends do you even talk too? I think I only have a group of 3 or 4 close friends. Those thousand people who were friends with me on facebook, well they are more acquaintance than anything. But I think there also is a problem because of it. Having thousands of followers or friends or whatever you want to call it, makes us addicted to immediate affirmation. Have you ever had this conversation in your headhe liked it, she liked it not. Why didnt she? I put it up because I thought she would like it by now. Why hasnt she liked it yet, its already been 37 seconds since I posted that picture! I know this instant gratification by strangers stimulates the dopamine in our brain and we cant get enough. The funny thing is that the person that liked your photo is that weird friend that all of us have that always seems to be online and always liking everything we do, and were like, man, I dont even like you. But thats okay because he liked it. I think this is the strangest part of technology in our relationships, it allows us to have the power to do friendships on our own terms. Heres what I mean because this is all connected so far. Just asking, do you have people or know people or maybe are the people that respond to texts only when its convenient. Like, you get a text message saying, SOS. Emergency. But you dont respond because its inconvenient for you, youre watching a TV show and cant push pause in the middle. Then four days go by and then you send a response when youre bored in the bathroom, just got this, you okay? Yeah. I know. I know what you do to people that respond too quickly to your posts and are always putting their weird comments on your wall you unfriend them, you unfollow them. Theres a correlation to the increased use of social media: the more you use it, the more you crave personal interaction, and yet the more connected you are, the more alone you feel. The good news is that we have a remedy to this situation of social media causing us to be less personable. It is called the power of presence. I mean, just imagine if Jesus saved us from death and sin view a Facebook posting that said follow me and live. It would have saved him the trouble of becoming a mere human, fragile and broken. It would have meant that the world didnt really have to know how it would be to walk with God. Jesus came on to this earth because there is a power of presence. The Bible even tells us a story of being in the presence of Jesus that heals the sick. That woman, in the midst of a crowd came in touch with the presence of Jesus garment and she was immediately healed. There is great power in presence. Look at Hebrews 10:24-25. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV) Without meeting with people, it is impossible to stir up one another to love and do good works. You cant do good works on the internet because youre not working on the internet, youre just surfing the internet. The writer of the Hebrews knew that believing in Jesus was not good enough, we had to follow Jesus in his presence and get into the habit of meeting together. It is even more important now that the end is drawing near, the writer says. If you want to capture the power of presence, Im going to give you two ways you can do this in your life right now. I dont care how old you are or where you are. This power is everywhere you are and its so so simple that we should all be engaged in it. The first way we capture the power of presence is this: Be present. Lets say that you have a friend who is hurting, how do you really love them? My dad died eight years ago, and this is what I rememberI had a group of friends who said sorry to hear that. Then I had another group of friends who flew half way across the country, they dropped whatever it was they were doing, and came out of the way to mourn my dads death with me. Thats the power of presence. Thats what it means to be there with somebody. Look at what Romans 12:9-13 says: 9 Dont just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 NLT) Its so easy to do nothing. Its a little less easy to send a text message or email. Its much more difficult but much more meaningful to be present. I know youre busy doing nothing with your lives, you should make time to be present in the lives of people you say you love. Dont just pretend to love others, really love them. You go and do for them exactly what you would need to feel loved. Everything short of that is wrong and you need to hate it. Dont be lazy. This being present is serving God. I love this in verse 13. I want us to spend another minute just looking at this verse. It says when Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Let me tell you something about Gods peoplethey are always in need. That when, is always. There isnt a single time in your life or in mine or in the Bible where Gods people are not in need. Jesus says to disciples that the needy will always be there, He will be murdered on a cross, and hung for sins he didnt commit, but the needy will always be there. Be eager to be present. That means some of you have to go out of your way to have lunch or grab coffee with people who are in need. It is the difference between praying for, because everybody in the world can pray for somebody, its a whole different thing when you are praying with Gods people who are in need. Last thing on how to harness the power of presence: be engaged. Not just physically be there, be there emotionally too, be fully engaged. Im guilty of this because this is how I treat thingsby multitasking, it drives Michelle crazy. I can be watching a movie, texting, reading a magazine, surfing the net and talking with her all at the same time. Thats not being engaged with anything. Sure I get a lot of stuff done, but Im not engaged in anything. The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 4: 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. (1 Peter 4:8-9 NLT) Deep love is engagement, it is sharing your personal space. The Apostle writes, share your home and share a meal and a place to stay. Put your phones away at lunch. When youre at church, stop staring at your phones, youre not so important that you need to have your tablets and phones glaring at your negative 6 eyes. You already got horrible eye sight, why are you messing up your relationships too? Dont just say you will pray for themdo it! Dont just like somethingdo something. Look at 1st John 3:18: Dear children, lets not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. If youre struggling with relationships, its time we stop talking about it and actually spend time doing something with them. Lets pray.
Comments are closed