5 Keys to Move Beyond Your LonelinessSample

Cultivate Loyalty

Loyalty seems to be a forgotten value in our culture. When problems arise in marriage, spouses opt out. When the job gets tough, people quit and look for something better. When sermons get boring or the music too loud, parishioners start looking for a different church. When friends get hurt, they ditch the friendship.

Here's the thing, God values loyalty. He Himself is a loyal and faithful God. He values commitment and faithfulness. Loyalty is faithfully, steadfastly and devotedly loving another person.

One of my favorite stories tucked in the Old Testament is about Ruth and Naomi. Two widows. Both grieving. One a daughter-in-law and one a mother-in-law. An unlikely pair of friends for so many reasons. Yet, when Naomi, the mother-in-law decided to make the trek back to Bethlehem, Ruth committed to going with her. Naomi tried to talk Ruth out of her decision, but scripture tells us that Ruth was determined. Ruth chose to be faithful and loyal to her mother-in-law leaving her own culture and family. She declared, “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

If you’re going to move beyond your loneliness, develop loyalty. People will fail you. They make mistakes. You’ll be disappointed at times. However, by cultivating loyalty you will gain the richness of long term friendships. In the end, those friends are more precious than gold.

Pause and reflect: Who are the friends who have been in your life for longer than ten years? Spend a few minutes reflecting on the beauty of those friendships.

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing faithfulness in my life. Thank You that Your love is steadfast and loyal. I pray now that You would cultivate loyalty in my life. I ask that You would strengthen me to be the loyal friend that others need. Help me to be willing to make sacrifices in order to remain faithful in my friendships.