1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach. Proverbs 18:1-3
I have seen a pattern lately of really unfriendly people. I grew up in West Texas and New Mexico, and we had some of the friendliest people around us all the time. When you would be driving on a road, I remember people in the cars going the opposite direction always waving, especially on the long lonely two-lane highways. What has happened to us in society to where our friendly waves have turned into unfriendly gestures. I really made a huge error this week when I made a stop at a stop sign, and as I rolled out into the intersection the two people going the opposite way rolled through their stop signs and almost ran into me. I proceeded to yell out the window at one of the drivers I was behind that there was a stop sign back there. Did it make me feel better? Only slightly. I felt more guilty about how angry I became with this situation. I know friendliness can lead to pleasure, and anger can lead to wickedness. So, why is it so hard to be friendly these days? I think a lot of it has to do with the multiple distractions we have, including people looking at their devices while they drive, but I also think the enemy has weaseled his way into our lives in an easier manner. If we find focus on being friendly and what the Lord teaches us, the contempt we feel for others will disappear. So many angry people in this world can drag us down, but if we focus on kindness and giving a friendly wave, with all our fingers, maybe you will have a positive impact on others. You also may not feel so guilty about your own behavior after lashing out.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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