The Loner

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment” (Proverbs 18:1).

I’m certain that over the course of your life experience you’ve known people who you would identify as “loners” versus those who prefer to be around other people. Which category do you fit into? Are you a “loner” or a “people person”?

Well, would it surprise you to learn that God does not approve of “loners” as it relates to the Christian experience? In fact, I think the scriptures go so far as to show us that being a “loner” as a Christian displeases God and is dangerous to one’s spiritual health. Take a careful look at the passage cited above to see what I mean.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, expressed how God views those who isolate themselves from other followers of God. He accused them of being selfish and of lacking good judgment. Would you agree that a good definition of selfishness is seeking one’s own desires as opposed to submitting to what God tells us is best for us. It may be hard to hear, but it’s true nonetheless. Those who call themselves Christians and stay away from the gathering of God’s people are selfish; selfish in that they are doing what they want as opposed to what God wants for them (which is always for their good).

But there’s more. Sound judgment tells us that in order to grow more like Jesus Christ in the way we live, regular contact with other Christians is important. There is indeed a special mechanism that surrounds the gathering of God’s people. It can’t be duplicated no matter how much time one spends alone reading the Bible or praying. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more…” Notice the phrase “one another”? It occurs twice in the passage. It implies spending time with other Christians in the context of “meeting together.”

Can you see how practical this becomes for us? How are you doing as it relates to spending time with God’s people? Is church a regular habit or an occasional event for you? Are you a loner or part of the “meeting together” that the writer of Hebrews made reference to?

Let me be direct with you. God does not approve of, nor will he bless, those who isolate themselves and seek their own desires; and further, He does not bless loners who “break out against all sound judgment.” Being part of God’s community of believers is not an option for us. For our own good, we are to fight the desire to be a loner and pursue instead regular association with God’s people. Hard words, but healthy; would you agree?