Likes

Can an argument be made that this is the most insecure generation in history?  I mean really.  Most of the business world has crowned Mark Zuckerburg one of the most brilliant business minds ever.  But if we all just calm down for a little bit, can't we say that Zukerburg brought out the worst in all of us?  Think about it...unless you have a business or are compelled to push your religious agenda (or support others who align with your religious agenda), why do you really participate in social media?  Why do you tell relative strangers that you got an "A" in math class as a 32 year-old community college student?  Why do you turn that fortune cookie into a self-quotable?  Why do you show the barely-done chicken, with the can vegetables, and the box macaroni and cheese with pride?  If we're honest with ourselves, isn't it all for attention?  Isn't it just to collect "likes"?

For example, a "stylist" told me she was going to make my daughter two tutus because of some donations I made to an organization she's a part of....and I'm still waiting for both of them after nearly two years.  So on Facebook, she's a stylist because of whatever reason she has concocted and because of her friends' supporting that concoction.  But in reality?  Well...

So while it's evident (at least in my and my daughters' mind) that she's no stylist, why would she promote herself to be one virtually? Could it be because in today's self-absorbed culture that it's not enough to dress well; but you must elevate yourself to 'stylist'?  Or maybe because being a stylist and giving the appearance that it could be true will get you....likes?  Is it really all about the likes?

Now this by no means is meant to shame any one's character or work ethic.  But it is to bring attention to a phenomenon we are all participating in at a rapid speed.  We are living our life to collect more and more likes on our social media outlets.  And not so much so the likes can drive attention to a brand or an ideal, or to increase revenue; but simply just to make ourselves feel important.  I've had people tell me they're gonna start writing after reading my works.  And because most of these people struggle with subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and other basics...I can't help but wonder do they perceive a certain level of attention I'm getting and they want in.

But what if you were called to do something that's not popular in popular culture, something that can't be tracked or advertised on social media? (Just being hypothetical here...some of you post when you give 24 cents to a person on the street that hasn't eaten for days).  Would you do it?  Or would you forgo the effort for a more recognizable venture?

Now, if your answer implies you don't need the attention, then please explain the 4 selfies-a-day thing you got going; noting that none of them are earning a dime.  And for you Christian cats called to minister the Word, you may want to consider yourselves as some of the worst offenders of this.  Please know there are at least nine scriptures that speak against attention-seeking behaviors.  Verses like James 4:6 which says that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  Or Matthew 6:1 which states this topic more directly; saying "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."  And it can be discovered very quickly if a person is doing whatever they are doing for God when their title, and hence the attention, is removed.  No more likes...no more service.

We all need to get off ourselves.  We're not that smart, we don't work that hard, and without filters....we're not that cute.  Instead, allow the humility of Christ...who made a decision to die for our self-worshiping selves so we could eternally live with the only being worth a real like.  Indeed you are special, but it's not at all because of you.

Peace