OPC'n
Puritan Board Doctor
Unbeknownst to you all here (since I can blab and blab online), I have a very difficult time talking with people. I get very anxious when talking to people. I have to make myself go up to talk with my church family. I ask them how they have been, how is work going, etc. They answer my questions and then I'm all out of questions and we just look at each other and either they walk away or I do. It's really awkward and I know I should do better.
Now take my neighbors. I don't even know their names. I have no idea how to even go up to their door and invite them over for coffee to talk. In fact, I have no desire to do so. I'm so far from loving my neighbor as myself that I can say I don't even care for my neighbor. I'm not so horrid that I don't care if they live or die but even atheists feel the same way. I would rather mow their lawn or do some other job for them than to talk with them. I would be ok if they came and talked to me but I would still stumble over my words.
I think I fall into one of three categories. Some people are sincerely interested in people and love to be around them and talk to them because they care about people. Some people are egocentric and selfish and they can talk freely with people because they think everyone is dying to know what they have to say. Others are egocentric and selfish and they can't talk freely with people because they think people won't like them or be interested in speaking with them. The last two have everything to do with self. I believe I fall into the third category.
I need to learn to love others with Godly love and I don't even know how to begin to do that. What does it look like to love others as yourself? I want to get better at talking with my church family because I love them and want to show that. I want to get better at talking with my neighbors and people I come across because I want to share the Gospel with them. As I said earlier, I would much rather to jobs for people or give them money etc than to sit down and talk with them. Do any of you guys have the same problem and if so how are you working to solve this?
Now take my neighbors. I don't even know their names. I have no idea how to even go up to their door and invite them over for coffee to talk. In fact, I have no desire to do so. I'm so far from loving my neighbor as myself that I can say I don't even care for my neighbor. I'm not so horrid that I don't care if they live or die but even atheists feel the same way. I would rather mow their lawn or do some other job for them than to talk with them. I would be ok if they came and talked to me but I would still stumble over my words.
I think I fall into one of three categories. Some people are sincerely interested in people and love to be around them and talk to them because they care about people. Some people are egocentric and selfish and they can talk freely with people because they think everyone is dying to know what they have to say. Others are egocentric and selfish and they can't talk freely with people because they think people won't like them or be interested in speaking with them. The last two have everything to do with self. I believe I fall into the third category.
I need to learn to love others with Godly love and I don't even know how to begin to do that. What does it look like to love others as yourself? I want to get better at talking with my church family because I love them and want to show that. I want to get better at talking with my neighbors and people I come across because I want to share the Gospel with them. As I said earlier, I would much rather to jobs for people or give them money etc than to sit down and talk with them. Do any of you guys have the same problem and if so how are you working to solve this?