Wednesday:
The other two causes of loneliness are: opposition and rejection.
In II Timothy 4:14 Paul writes, “Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil:
the Lord reward him according two his works.” Although we do not know what
Alexander did to Paul, whether he mistreated him in prison, damaged his name or
reputation or tried to hamstring Paul’s message, we do know that Paul was in
prison feeling alone and being
attacked.
Opposition can really hurt, no matter where it comes from.
Our children are constantly being opposed be their friends and
acquaintances. It may or may not have
anything to do with their faith. Non believing kids are at the same mercy of
bullies and mean kids. Our parents may feel that they are being opposed by
insurance companies or the government or their previous employers. All of us
can feel opposed by others, people at work who are trying to make a name for
themselves will often times gladly sacrifice others for their own personal
gain.
The fourth cause of loneliness is
the most serious: rejection. Rejection is one of the most difficult things for
a human being to handle. That is why divorce is so painful, and that is why God
hates adultery: it is a betrayal, and hurts lives. It is an act of
unfaithfulness, an abandoning, a forsaking, and it is very painful.
Paul felt rejection as noted in v.
16 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray
that it may not be laid to their charge.” In other words when the going got
tough everyone left Paul to fend for himself. What a terrible feeling to be
deserted by everyone who ever cared
about you.
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