Interests

I tried to make today’s image look like something from a funds investment presentation. The tie in is that ‘friendship’ should connote an appreciating value. We should seek to better, and to be made better by the people who choose as friends.

I realize that much of what I write can be interpreted (or misinterpreted) based on how individuals define things. Of course, we try to convey the most common understandings about things we think we agree on, but fact of the matter is….there are no guarantees. I don’t know whether to call it a phenomena or not, but something new seems to have caught my attention.

This is about Facebook and my question is this - When did it become “a thing” to friend someone and then unfollow them because ‘unfriending’ is frowned upon (unless absolutely necessary)? It makes me wonder about how we define “friend”. I always thought that the basis for friendship was mutual interests. Something common and equally desirable . The flip side was the realization that if there was no mutual interest, then there probably was no reason to be friends. Nothing personal, but how can it work if there’s nothing personal or intimate to base a friendship on?
But when it comes to Facebook, is this important AT ALL? Maybe people don’t see Facebook as particularly real in the first place, and if that’s the case, then the answer is “No", this probably isn’t important. However, what if on the contrary, something more subtle is happening? If you unfollow someone, yet still claim to be their friend even though they are no benefit to you and you’re no benefit to them, what are we to make of that?
That means that we can redefine something to its absolute opposite, yet experience no impact of it. For believers, whether the matter is big or small, we should stay conscious of how the natural and spiritual can impact or influence each other.

In VERY obvious of ways, people claim to have a relationship with God yet they live with no mutual interest. God Himself says in Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say. God promotes the idea of mutual interest and its not as simple as with social media. If you unfollow Him, then essentially, you’ve unfriended Him.

Here’s The Word:

James 4:4 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

There are many things IN life that the Bible doesn’t speak distinctly about; Math, physics, next week’s weather or what the stock market is going to do. BUT for us who FOLLOW Him, when we come across things He's expressly addressed, we should pay close attention and make sure that His definition, is our definition. And if we’re honest, there’s more than enough in His word to keep us occupied, edified and sanctified for His use.

Mutual interests in regards to Christ – We need a savior and He so happens to be the BEST one ever!
– not only out of His divine power which speaks to Authority, but also out of His great love. He went to lengths greater than we’re able to comprehend in order to not simply demand obedience, but to deserve it. He also invites and involves us in His great work in the world. If He were simply being a Divine Ruler, judgement would’ve rightfully found all of us paying for our sins through eternal separation and suffering. But He had compassion on us as a friend would, and helped us in exactly the way we needed it. He showed us by example exactly what a friend should look like.

Here’s The Word:

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Look, this is not for you to feel scolded into handling your social media any other way than how you see fit. As a matter of fact, I have many friends who don't DO social media at all. Hopefully, this was just an encouragement to look at things maybe a little differently, or maybe just a little more closely. If you have friends - be a friend, treat your friends as friends according to mutual interests, and live by Christ's example.


In Him,
Cros