I recently read that the average person under 40 checks their social media more than 100 times a day.
That is crazy…
More than 100 times they are checking to see if people liked their latest picture, left a playful comment or affirmed their deep thought.
Now, I am not trying to offend anyone, but that is a lot of narcissism. That is a lot of time invested in trying to determine what others think of them.
As I thought about the statistic and what it means, I had an epiphany… if people are looking for that type of affirmation, perhaps we should give it to them.
If they are craving that much attention and applause, we should use that as an opportunity to share with them the good news that Jesus always sees them, loves them unconditionally and actually likes them.
When looking to influence people with the Good News of Jesus, the launch pad might just be found in what they are looking for over 100 times a day.
What the people around you really crave.
- They want to be friended. Something about being pursued, even if it is an easy social media action, is meaningful. It encourages and makes them feel good.
If being “friended” is that meaningful, how powerful would it be for them to realize that God calls them a friend (John 15:15) and actually wants a relationship with them. Not just to check in occasionally, but an actual friendship where He walks with and encourages them.
- They want to be seen. It is important that they know you see them, understand, and care, but it is more important that they learn that God sees them. Remind them that He cares and isn’t missing a thing. Point them towards Psalm 139, where it says He knows when they sit and rise, that He perceives their thoughts, that He is familiar with all of their ways.
They want to know that the people in their life see them, but when they realize that God is always near and always sees, it could change their trajectory. - They want to be liked. They may attribute a like on a profile to actual affection, but that is shallow and temporary. Point out that God not only likes them, but He loves them with an unconditional and unending love.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
The most powerful force in the universe is the aggressive and unyielding love of the Creator of the universe. When it is realized and embraced, it protects, shapes and directs a life. - They want to be shareable. Meaning, they want to be interesting enough to not only hold someone’s attention and keep them coming back for updates, but to have someone share their thoughts and moments with others.
You will never be more “shareable” than when you are loving and following Jesus wholeheartedly. In Matthew 26:13, Jesus affirms a woman who loved Him visibly by saying that her story would be told many times.
Let’s face it: the people we are trying to reach with the Gospel are narcissistic. They think about themselves. They want attention, but we have to stop giving them what they are asking for (shallow and meaningless attention from others just as broken as they are) and start giving them what they need. They need to know that Jesus sees them, loves them, and has a plan for their lives.
Sean Dunn is founder and president of Groundwire, a global ministry with the mission to lead every youth and young adult into a personal relationship with Jesus by leveraging current media channels to connect with them wherever they are. More than 116,000 made commitments to Christ through the organizations efforts in 2020. For more information, visit www.groundwire.net.