Apr 23 2009
Talking To Strangers
One of the nicest compliments I’ve received in a long while came from an unbelieving friend. The origin (an unbeliever) made the compliment more meaningful. This friend told us about folks he planned to meet for lunch. Then he invited us to come along. “He’s a bit eccentric. She’s just a nice lady. You’d enjoy them. You get along with everybody.”
The comment really did not sink in until a little later. Then I had to laugh to myself. Me getting along with everybody? Me the person who just a few short years ago avoided strangers, crowds, and any situation which would put me into the position of carrying on a conversation with someone I did not know fairly well.
I shook my head in amazement and humility. God has certainly done some work in my life, in this area, in the last few years. Work I knew was occurring, but work I had not really thought about. As I pondered this heart change, Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 came to mind. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”
Some of us are naturally friendly and outgoing. Some of us get along much better with strangers than with those who know us well. Some of us are uncomfortable around anyone we do not know well.
God has wired us to be different. This is part of our individuality. However, the principle in Paul’s words is important to remember, regardless of how we are wired. Here are some questions to ponder:
If you are naturally friendly and outgoing, are you using your friendly nature and your ability to make people feel comfortable in a way that honors God? Are you seeking to bring people to the foot of the cross where, if God grant them grace, they will find salvation?
Being friendly and outgoing is an asset. You intuitively make people comfortable around you. However, it is far to easy to hide behind a superficial friendliness which cares little for the souls of those we call our ‘friends’.
If you get along better with strangers than with those you know well are you using this comfort with strangers as a witnessing tool? Have you ever put it to work in street evangelism? Are you seeking to win the lost?
And have you thought about why you do not enjoy being with family? While many of us have been ‘blessed’ with at least one difficult family member, God has not given us leave to forsake them either. We have obligations to family which we do not have to strangers. Furthermore, if our family members are unsaved, our zeal for their salvation should be greater still - because they are family. Thus, are you seeking to rebuild and restore (or build and create) those difficult relationships in your life so you can have a positive impact on those God has put in your family?
If you are uncomfortable around people you do not know well, are you seeking to get past your own self-absorbed view and put God’s honor and glory first? These are harsh words, but I am speaking to myself, too.
I always assumed I was just shy. And, on a certain level, I am not a people person. However, God did not put me here, save me from my sin, and make me His child to put my light under a bushel.
For years I assumed my life was ‘light’ enough. While the way I live is extremely important (people will not believe a word I say if my life does not live up to my words), the impact of my words, my friendship, my openness to hurting, hungry, seeking people is even more powerful. For our use of this, my friend, God will hold us accountable.
Take this unsaved friend who I mentioned above. This man is NOT someone I would have sought for a friend in the past. He is not easy to get to know (he has few people skills). He believes strongly in almost everything which is contrary to what I believe. Furthermore, he speaks strongly against many things I believe - to the point of slamming Christianity in my presence, at my home, knowing I am a Christian.
YET, God opened the door for us to share the Gospel with him recently. Not just a short talk but a five hour discussion about faith and life and sin and many other things. Were it not for the change God has wrought in my heart, a change which helped me set aside my pride and reach out to people who I don’t feel comfortable with, this conversation would never have occurred.
I challenge you to prayerfully consider this: Is your pride really worth someone else’s soul? Whether you are outgoing or timid, whether you get along well with strangers or they leave you tongue-tied - are you working to be ‘all things to all people’ (regardless of how you feel) that God may use you to win those He calls?
God grant us both the grace to be vessels in His hands to His honor and glory!
