Proverbs 18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends;
he defies all sound judgment.

The Japanese renders “unfriendly man” as “someone who closes himself off.” We’ve all known such people, and most of us have been at least tempted to be that way at times. The verse goes on to say that such people are selfish/self centered, and we’ve all been that way more than we care to admit. The interesting thing is that it goes on to say that such behavior defies all sound judgment. We are much more at risk when we fail to realize how foolish such behavior is. Withdrawal from society has been a problem in Japan for quite a few years now, with young people shutting themselves off, hardly coming out of their rooms. That’s a different problem from lonely old people who would genuinely like more human interaction but lack appropriate opportunities. The motives for young people shutting themselves off are varied, but they have the common thread of being self centered, just as this verse says. The same root gives rise to all sorts of emotional/psychological problems, actually. I visit the patients at a large mental hospital regularly, and for many of them, their problem is essentially that they have a mirror parked in front of their noses, figuratively speaking. That is, they are so self-absorbed that they are unable to function in normal society. That indeed defies all sound judgment!

I have been greatly blessed to be married to a very social person for well over 40 years now. That’s all the greater blessing when I realize the strong tendencies I have to close myself off in various ways. Particularly with the current availability of the Internet, it would be possible in my natural self never to come out of my room. However, by God’s grace I realize how thoroughly that defies sound judgment! The best way to have good judgment is to have a right relationship with God, as the Bible says repeatedly. The more we try to cut Him out of the picture the more foolish we become. Those who indeed love Him with all they are will not fail to love their neighbor as well. (Matthew 22:37-39) In dealing with those who have closed, or are trying to close, themselves off, I need to point them first to God. Only He can really pull us out of the self-centered pits we dig for ourselves.

Father, You know who I am dealing with particularly on this issue at this point, but he is far from the first and certainly won’t be the last. I ask for Your wisdom and anointing in my every interaction with him, that the mirror in front of his nose may be broken and he be able to see You again, as well as those around him. Your Word says that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and that I am sent as He was, (John 20:21) so I claim that for him and for all like him to whom You have me minister, for their deliverance and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!