“Being a loner is not your fault”

 

Often loners are greatly criticized by this country, especially if they don’t have jobs. Society as a whole sees them as a drain on society. They don’t understand loners and view them as losers. However, in God’s word we find many reasons why they prefer to be alone. The main reason is because we live in an ungodly country. The Lord himself, along with righteous men in the old testament would not socialize with the wicked. Psalms 26: 5 says “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Not only does the writer of this passage not sit with the wicked, but it is actually a commandment of God not to be friends with the workers of iniquity. In fact, those which make friends with the ungodly are at risk of God’s wrath. One proverbs says that “...a companion of fools will be destroyed.” The man of God is supposed to warn the wicked and give them counsel, not to strengthen them in their wickedness. The complicated part of understanding the bible is that certain scriptures apply to different types of societies. There have been holy nations governed by God which kept his judgments and there are scriptures for them. Then there are scriptures to other nations who do not keep God’s word. Also, certain scriptures apply to different parts of the life of the righteous man. For, example in jobs 11: 16 we find “...Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away.” This man was miserable and then suddenly he was not. In this scripture as well as others we find suffering to be a part of life for the righteous. However, eventually it ends and the righteous man is blessed. The main exception to much of the bible is the afflicted people of God called Zion and Jerusalem. These people are loners, not just by choice, but because God has afflicted them. The afflicted people Jerusalem, end up suffering for the majority of their lives. However, in the end they are delivered from their enemies and are exalted for all eternity. Thus, we have two reasons for a good person to be a loner. The first is that it is a commandment from God not to be friends with the wicked. The second is for people that are so afflicted they cannot socialize.

Let’s begin with some scriptures about how the righteous man of God is supposed to live in an ungodly nation, and then move on to talking about the afflicted. Many of the scriptures I discuss will apply to both and I will give wise counsel to any person seeking God. Not only are we not supposed to make friends with the wicked, but we are not supposed to accept the wicked. Proverbs 18: 5 says “It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.” Often many people that seek God fail because they approve of wicked people. In addition, we might find it difficult to fit in when the people around us approve of wickedness. It can be people we know or it can be actors, musicians, politicians or anyone on television. Unfortunately, America is a cultural powerhouse and it’s “stars” as they say are very talented. Much of America has exalted the wicked and has as Isaiah 5: 20 called “...evil good, and good evil.” They have everything backwards and the wicked have the power and control in many places of American society. Habakkuk 1: 4 says “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” Living in America can not only be depressing, it can be scary as well. Again, local leaders and powerful men in the government are often corrupt and greedy. Many of God’s laws are ignored or have been eliminated completely from the public domain. This country was founded on the belief in God and for much of it’s history it was a country seeking God. However, today God is often a construct of the imagination of evil men. Not every city in America is corrupt, but many are. Usually, big cities are the best place to live if you want to live godly. There are some places a godly man can live and enjoy his life. However, much of this country has forgotten God and the righteous man will have different experiences depending on the city he lives in.

If you have the ability and money to move to a different country, you should probably consider doing it. Otherwise, you may have to face persecution as well as difficulty finding happiness in everyday life. God actually tells his people to “...enter thou into they chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hid thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.”(Isaiah 26:20) The main reason God tells his people to hide is because of what the bible calls scorners. Scorners are prideful people which have no fear of God and will not listen to any of his word. Scorners will find any opportunity to give someone a hard time. They don’t just make jokes, they completely ruin our lives. Not only do ungodly people ruin are ability to go out and have a good time, but they are unfair in compensating us for our work. This is because most of the good jobs go to popular people. Connections in college and other places are more important than intelligence and competence.

The afflicted people called Jerusalem often live in ungodly cities. In fact, God’s counsel for those living in America is to “...not be afraid of the Assyria: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.” Basically, the afflicted people in America are subject to insults and sometimes threats. The Psalmist say that “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy.” Being surrounded by the wicked can be depressing, but God will deliver us from wicked. Psalms 37: 40 says “And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they trust in him.” One thing I wanted to mention is that God’s people are delivered from the wicked, whereas the Christian is not. I hope this gives you peace of mind, knowing that God has your back and you can rest in his strength and favor.

Part of the reason righteous men are loners in an ungodly nation is because they haven’t found God yet. The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord, but often it takes many years before the righteous man finds the knowledge of God. Without the knowledge of God we have no defense for the lies of the enemy. When the wicked scorn and criticize the righteous, they have no truth to find confidence in. However, once you seek God with your whole heart, God will turn you depression into joy. Finding God is a very difficult task. Most people spend a couple weeks seeking God and then give up because they don’t find him. You must diligently seek God. After a person really finds God, they often find prosperity soon after. One proverb say that “If you were pure and upright, surely God would awake for you and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.”

The Lord himself is a loner in the old testament. Isaiah 63:3 says “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me…” He actually preferred “the gates of Zion more than the dwelling places.” He would rather cruise around in his car than go to someone’s dwelling place or house as most would call it. Jeremiah describes him as “...a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?” The Lord of the old testament had a much different social life than Jesus. Jesus had many followers and socialized with society at a whole. Whereas, the real Lord was a loner. If the Lord was a loner, maybe you should consider being a loner to be a good thing. The writer in Psalms said that “...The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Not only was the Lord a loner, but he did not want to be friends with the wicked.

One reason the afflicted people and righteous men are loners is because they are misjudged. Much of this country exalts pride. The wicked are absolutely convinced that everybody in the world is like them. Thus, when a man of God comes around them, they don’t understand that person. Furthermore, when the righteous are around the wicked, they don’t flatter the wicked. They don’t laugh at their jokes or desire to be friends with the wicked. When they contend with the wicked, the righteous are often seen as haters or intolerant.