One Is the Loneliest Number

One of the most common problems faced by many people today is loneliness.

There are many people today who can identify with that statement.

You may have not thought about this in regard to loneliness but think about it --- loneliness was the very first problem recorded in the Bible – that is that Adam was lonely.

The Gallup research group has said, “…...we are a very lonely populace; we are cut apart from each other.”

There is some truth in that statement ---- think about some of the so-called conveniences we indulge in in our daily lives --- drive thru windows; automated teller machines at the bank; online ordering of any number of articles we want or need.

And even somewhat worse ---- the internet itself offers many ways to stay connected with friends and family -----but what is result of that?

Social isolation --- and social isolation leads to depression and loneliness.

Surveys show that 1 out of 4 people feel lonely at any given time. One report says that as of 1990, 23 million adults in the US live by themselves – alone. 22% ate dinner alone last night.

Loneliness affects children, teenagers, college students, newly married couples, mothers, fathers, and senior citizens. That covers most people. It would seem that no one is fully exempt from loneliness.

Well, have I successfully caused you to be depressed now?

With all of that depressing news there is a way out of depression. There is a hope to be gained.

Anyone who has experienced – or is experiencing – those feelings of isolation, has at the ready a blessed statement straight from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ that will give us hope, where there once was depression and loneliness.

Let’s look at John 15:12-17  

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.

This is Jesus speaking here. He is the Prince of Peace; the Alpha and the Omega (the Beginning of All Things and the End of all things).

We have the blessing of enjoying the friendship of God just as we have friendship with one another.

Of all the friends we might have in this world – and those friendships are of immense value to us --- but there is no greater friendship than that we have with Jesus.

Now, with all that said --- what we need to learn is the principles of our friendship with our Lord Jesus Christ – that is, we need to learn the elementary facts of our friendship with Him.

First there is SACRIFICE.

John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Our friendships with each other and even with the Lord may not be perfect; but His friendship with us IS perfect.

Perfect friendship – according to Jesus – is found when we are willing to sacrifice our own life for that of our friends.

ILLUSTRATION – During WW II in the North Atlantic Sea – February 1943 – the ship USS Doissture was hit by a German torpedo and began to sink.

As the crew began to evacuate, they found that there were not enough life jackets to go around. Among the crew there were 4 Navy chaplains who gave their life jackets to the young sailors. They were last seen – the four of them holding hands – going down together as the ship capsized beneath the sea.

The true nature of love – that is true friendship - is being willing to sacrifice your life for the life of another person.

That is exactly what Jesus did for each of us.

ROMANS 5:6-8

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus died for you and me, because He considered us to be His friends and He wanted our sins to be forgiven in the eyes of our Father.

That, of course, is SACRIFICE.

The second principle of Jesus’ friendship with us is SUBMISSION.

John 15:14 – Jesus says: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

When Jesus speaks those words – that we are His friends – we must understand that what cannot see ourselves as equals with Him – we are not His best buds or His best pals.

The word “friend” as used here – in the Greek language literally means

“a friend at court: - the inner circle around a king or emperor.

In John 3:29 the phrase “friend of the bridegroom” is written and there means someone who is close to the bridegroom and knows his secrets – in today’s language they would be known as “best buds.”

They would be so close that they would know each other’s secrets – but they would protect those secrets – and in doing so, would be keeping his commandments.

Jesus, in His ministry always stressed the relationship between love and obedience. Reference: John 14:15 -Jesus said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Our friendship with Jesus is not one-sided. Jesus gave His all for our friendship. So, if we are going to be His we need to keep His Word.

That reminds me of an old hymn that says:

“I gave my life for thee;

My precious blood I shed;

That thou might’st ransomed be,

and quickened from the dead;

I gave, I gave My life for thee; What has thou given for Me?

Here is a deep question: “If we love the Lord --- If we want to be His friend – what have we given for Him?

Have we obeyed Him in our lives? Really, Jesus does not ask much of us. He expects us to listen to His Word, to believe His is God’s Son – the  Savior of the world, and confess Him such and repent of our sin, and then to be baptized to begin a life of living in worship of Him, living a moral life according to His teaching.

He doesn’t ask us to sacrifice our lives the way He did for us.

We read in 1John 5:3 –

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

If you ever wonder if you are in a right relationship with God – here is a question to ask yourself: “Do I keep His commands?”

The proof of our live and devotion to Him is not in our feelings – it is in our actions.

The third principle of our friendship with Jesus results in SALVATION.

John 15:15 –

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

ILLUSTRATION OF HERMITAGE

There is a significant difference in being a slave of Satan or being a friend of Christ. Galatians 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Salvation is the promise of a home in God’s house.

We are friends of Jesus and one day will be welcomed into the mansion He has been preparing for us since the day He ascended into Heaven.

And then, the final principle of our friendship with Him is experienced through SERVICE.

Jesus said, in John 15:17:

“This I command you, that you love one another.”

In our Christian lives we experience the friendship of Jesus through our love of our family in Christ.

Did you know that “love” is an action word? It indicates service and action.

In Vines Complete Expository Dictionary, the author wrote: “Love can be known only from the actions it prompts.” In reality what that is saying is that if we are not prompted into action, it is very likely we have no concept of the extent of the love that Jesus Christ teaches us.

Jesus helps each of us through each of us. In other words, Jesus helps His people through His people.

During His earthly ministry Jesus saw people, not as a massive crowd – but as lonely, harassed, helpless individuals – each one in need of a Savior. He still sees us today in the same way – He see all of humanity as lost sheep who need a Savior.

It is unlikely we will see someone who wears a sign that says: “I am lonely – will you help me?”

But there are millions of people in our world who are lonely and don’t know where to turn for help to emerge from that loneliness.

The only real solution to that loneliness and all the other problems that many people face in life - is discovering the meaning of true friendship with Jesus Christ.