December 18

Dec 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 1
"An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment."

Selfish people are lonely people. They may function in the midst of an abundance of other people, but even so, they live a lonely life. Selfish people are constantly seeking recognition - on their own terms. People like that have few friends. When one pursues selfish ends, there is no natural flow of quid quo pro in life.
Friendliness is an attitude that carries its own rewards. True friendliness has no ulterior motive; it is simply displayed from an inner contentedness in life. Friendly people seldom have anything to prove, and they often have lots to offer. They are people who have learned that 'it's better to be kind than to be right'. They are people who have learned that 'when you smile, the world smiles with you'. They are people who discovered how very little one can truly accomplish in this life by themselves.
I am of the conviction that true friendliness is an attribute of unconditional love. You give without expecting any return. In Luke 10:25-37, an expert in the law inquired of Jesus how he might secure eternal life. Jesus asked him what was written in the law. He replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength and with all you mind and, Love your neighbor as yourself." The man gave the right answer but viewed it from the wrong perspective. Because he was an expert in the law, he seemed pretty confident that he was okay in the first department. But he wasn't quite sure about the requirement of the second. "Who is my neighbor?" he asked the Lord Jesus. The text reveals that the man "wanted to justify himself." In other words, the man wanted to know exactly how to fulfill this command that he might save himself. Here we see the attitude of an unfriendly man. He did not ask how he might see others get eternal life. His interest was not for others, but for his own ends. If he had to love his neighbor in order to get to heaven, he wanted to know the definition of his neighbor so he could clearly pursue his selfish end.
Well, you know the rest of the story. Jesus told one of the most popular parables of all times in the story of The Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan is the example of a truly friendly person. He gave without expecting any return. He helped a person in a time of need just because the person needed help. Jesus revealed a great paradox to the expert in the law. We are not to attempt to identify our neighbors that we might pursue our own selfish ends in loving them; we are to be the neighbor who seeks to make the world of those around us a little better place to live. When walking down the sidewalk or hallway and you pass by a stranger, instead of looking down or away, look in their eye, smile, and give them a friendly greeting. Don't expect one back - just do it because the world needs a friendlier climate. When driving home in the rush hour and you see someone who needs a break to get into the proper lane, make a little room and wave them in with a smile. When someone who you know is struggling with an issue in life and their name comes to your mind, pick up the phone and give them a call, or get on line and send them a note, or pick up a friendly little card and drop it in the mail. We encounter little opportunities each day to be friendly - to make someone's day just a little better. When friendliness becomes a pattern of life, you will make a wonderful discovery; it's called the law of reciprocity. It begins to come back to you from the most unexpected places. In your efforts to make the lives of others a little nicer and warmer, you will discover your own life getting nicer and warmer. Friendliness carries its own rewards.