7 Lies The World Tells Us, 7 Biblical Truths That God Tells UsНамуна

Day Three: You Are Who You Know

In this new “normal” that we’re all living in, the gig economy is affecting every sector of our culture—not just the labor force or economics. It’s changing the way we live everyday life. 

Through seven dangerous lies, the gig economy promises freedom but instead ensnares us showing it’s anything but. 

The most authentic freedom and flexibility, however, is only found when we stop believing these lies and instead replace them with the truth of who we are in Christ.

We have considered Lie #1: You are what you do and Lie #2: You are what you experience. Today, we look at Lie #3: You are who you know, and the truth that refutes it. 

Lie #3 - You are who you know.

We are now more connected as a society than ever before. When traveling to speak, I use FaceTime to be a part of my children’s bedtime routine. Viber is the instant messaging app I use to stay in touch with my parents and siblings. And Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are my apps of choice to stay connected with friends and acquaintances.

So if we’re constantly connected to one another due to our smartphones, how is it possible that our phones are simultaneously leading us to disconnection and isolation? Well, have you ever used your phone in front of others? Choosing to scroll through social media, read the news, or answer emails, instead of engaging in a conversation with those around you? And what about the last time you were at a coffee shop or restaurant with another person? Was your phone face up, so that you didn’t miss whatever it is that you were waiting for? That’s how.

Why are we opting out of present, embodied moments to scroll through other people’s past experiences on a screen?

And while freedom is the allure of the gig economy—that you will have more flexibility in your schedule to spend time with your loved ones, and money to spend on experiences—it actually leads to the opposite. Just consider the free time or downtime that you used to have after work to invite friends over for dinner, to talk with your neighbors, or go to the lake with your family on the weekends. Haven’t you replaced some or all of it with hustling, grinding, and working on the side, so that you’ll have more money to spend time with them…at some point in the future?

Do you see the false logic in that? You’re giving up free time to work, so that you’ll have more money for free time in the future. How does this make sense? To exchange present moments of real connection for future moments of hopeful connection? 

This lie is so deceptive. On the surface, while the Internet, smartphones, and the rise of the gig economy appear to be connecting us with one another, they’re actually doing the very opposite. They’re exacerbating the problems of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness. We are more disconnected than ever before, which is leading to a decline in trust. 

And the more disconnected and untrusting we become, the more we are going to turn inward and become unhealthily obsessed with ourselves. 

Truth #3 - When we become disconnected and untrusting in the absence of real relationship, we move to greater isolation and self-centeredness.

Are you familiar with the parable of the rich fool? I’d tell it myself, but Jesus does it better.

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ (Luke 12:16-19)

Jesus’ listeners would’ve been shocked by this parable for a reason that may not initially stand out to our 21st century perspective. Try reading through the parable again and counting how many times the rich man uses the personal pronoun. And did you notice to whom he was speaking?

In Jesus’ day, this is not how people functioned. Ancient Near Eastern culture was not individualistic; people didn’t grow their own fiefdoms and keep their wealth to themselves. Rather, life was lived together, with one another, and in community.

So why is this rich man isolated and making the decision by himself? Especially when his decision would affect everyone else around him. How long has he been isolated and disconnected from those around him? How long has it been since he’s trusted someone else? And how long has he lived inside of his own vacuum of reality?

No wonder he’s become so obsessed with himself. Isolation is the end result of disconnection. I love how King Solomon puts it, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom” (Proverbs 18:1).

The more disconnected and isolated you become, the more you’ll turn inward and grow obsessed with yourself. Eventually, your current needs, your future needs, and your contingent what-if needs, will be all that you can think of. Even when you’re “helping” others, it will always be in view of what you can get out of it, or for that time when they can repay you back. And instead of recognizing and being grateful for the role that others have played in your life, you will reframe and reinterpret reality through the lens of me, myself, and I.

The more you turn inward and reinterpret the past through this self-centered obsessive way, the more disconnected you’ll become. And the more you disconnect from others, the more you’ll see life through the lens of giving and taking. Your relationships with others will turn into meaningless, consumeristic transactions. And instead of viewing life with an abundance mindset, you’ll begin seeing everything through the lens of scarcity. Instead of living a life of generosity, you’ll scrape by with greed. And on and on it goes.

Other people do not satisfy. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of true relationship and community. Show me the ways that I’ve held back from others for fear of being hurt. Please grant me a hunger to pursue authentic relationships and not settle with this lie. Amen.