Being Ignored

 The way other people treat us has a lot to do with how we feel emotionally. It is really upsetting to have someone attack us in a hateful way. On the other hand, when someone is loving toward us, it makes us very happy. However, one of the worst feelings is when we are ignored by another person. It makes us feel worthless and unimportant. God never wants us to ignore others, and hurt them in that way.

That is how the 10 northern tribes of Israel felt when the new king, Rehoboam, ignored their requests for him to be easier on them than Solomon had been. (II Chronicles 10:16) When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people told the king that they did not have any inheritance in David, so they would go to their tents and split off from the tribe of Judah to form their own country. That shows the effect of being ignored. It changed the history of God's people.

The reason being ignored is so bad is that it is really the opposite of being loved. I know some people say that hate is the opposite of love, but I don't believe that. Whether we are hated or loved, the other person at least takes time to interact with us, and we are not left alone. When we are ignored, the other person doesn't care at all. That is the opposite of love where the other person puts us ahead of them.

In our churches we see all kinds of problems develop because Satan always tries to disturb the unity of God's people, like he did in Israel. One cause of that lack of unity is when one person or one group of people are ignored by the leaders or by another group, and this leads to a split. Far too many churches have begun because of this kind of split, instead of by a distinct plan of God. That is not ever what God wants to happen. We need to love each other and listen to each other.  

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Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 11-13.