SOCIAL MEDIA

PART 3

A SOCIAL MEDIA THAT INVESTS IN YOU

It seems like almost anyone you talk to these days is involved at some level in investing. Not so many years ago it would have been unusual to hear many people that were middle class or below that had any money invested in anything other than a savings account. But today it is common to hear these same people talking about investments and paying very close attention to their portfolio. The faith-based social media platform is also in the business of investing; of course, our main investment is not in the stock market, but in people. A truthful faith-based platform wants to invest in you the things that will help you to become a fully devoted follower of Yeshua Moshiach and they are expecting a return on that investment. Let us take a look in exactly what it is the faith-based social media is investing in people and what type of return they should expect. When I say “they” invest, I mean the faith-based social media as a whole, not just the leaders, in fact, as a member of that platform, you are one of the ones investing in other people, while at the same being invested in yourself. First of all, let’s talk about…

The Investment…:

There are four main ways that they invest in people; we could list some others, but I believe these four cover most of the territory. I realize that most faith based platforms are not perfect in all of these areas, but this is what they need to strive for.

1. Love: First and foremost, the faith-based social media platform should be a place where you can experience the Love of YHVH from the people of YHVH. They do not love you because you are such a lovable person, they do not love you because you have done something for them and they owe you and they do not love you because they want to get something from you, a true faith-based platform’s motive is supposed to be pure. They should love you because they have been loved by YHVH and they want you to share in that experience with them. “Be kindly affection one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Romans 12:10) This is exactly what they need to accomplish; they must no desire to be fake or pretend to be something that they are not. A faith-based social media platform simply needs to genuinely love and honour you as a fellow human being. Their love that is invested in you is an extension of the love that has been invested in them by YHVH Himself. Admittedly, this is not something that is always easy, but it is something that a true faith-based platform makes a concerted effort at accomplishing. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24) Notice that he says to “think of ways” to do this; the idea is that as a faith based social media platform, are to actually plan and discover ways of loving each other better. How would you like to be on a committee like that? Your job is to find out how to love people in the way YHVH loves them. The truth is, we are all on that team on such a platform and they want to invest in you with the love of Yeshua Moshiach.

2. Time: Maybe you heard about the guy that wanted to go to a Time Management seminar once, but he could not fit it into his schedule. The truth of the matter is we all need to value the time that we have. We need to make sure that we are making good use of it, as we really do not know how much time we have left. When I say we need to make good use of it, sometimes that good use is relaxing, spending time with your family or going on holiday. As said in part 3, it is of utmost importance that we are each involved in the work of your faith based social media and that takes time. Many, many people are investing their time in your life through a truthful faith-based platform because they care about your soul and what YHVH wants from us. Why do they do that? Why do people spend hours preparing Bible teachings each week? Why does worship teams spend so much time rehearsing? Why do volunteers in many different areas spend so much time doing what they do? Is it that none of these people have anything else to do? Is it because they have no other demands on their time? No, they do what they do because they care about you and to spread the Gospel and they believe that the time they invest in their various faith-based platforms is time well-spent because it will have a positive impact for the Kingdom of YHVH. Now you might spend your time in one area and I spend mine in another, and in doing so we are investing in each other the way YHVH wants us to.

3. Guidance: At a 1999 conference, a missionary to Africa, told of bringing some African pastors to gather for a big meeting. During their free time, these Africans wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, the organiser knew there was a chance someone might have difficulty or get lost. So, she gave them her phone number for such an emergency. In less than an hour the phone rang and the African said, "I am lost." The organiser said, "Put the phone down, go to the street corner, find out the names of the two streets at the corner, come back and tell me and I will come and get you." In a few minutes the lost pastor returned to the phone and reported, "I am at the corner of 'Walk' and 'Don't walk.'" Sometimes in life many people feel like they are at the same corner. A faith-based social media platform is supposed to help guide you toward making the right decisions that will impact your life in a positive way. They should do that through teaching, through discussions, through Bible study, through personal counsel, through notifications and many other ways. They should invest what YHVH has taught us into your life so that you can invest it into other people’s lives. “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Moshiach Yeshua.” (Colossians 1:28) That is exactly how a true faith-based platform should invest in the lives people. Warning and teaching with the wisdom that YHVH has given to each participant and member. Is it for personal benefit? No, it is so everyone they are in contact with can be presented to YHVH perfect in their relationship to Moshiach.

4. Support: “as also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of Adonai Yeshua.” (2 Corinthians 1:14) What troubles does YHVH comfort us in? All of them! Why does He comfort us in our troubles? So that we can comfort others! A true faith-base platform are supposed to invest in you by giving you the support you need when trials and tribulations come into your life. They should have other believers on their prayer chain that are ready to pray for you as soon as they know about your need. They should have believers that is designed specifically to help those in various social media platforms who have various needs. They should have people that are more than willing to talk with you, comfort you, pray with you, encourage you or do whatever else is necessary. They should want to invest in you by supporting you in the best way that they know how. These are four ways how a true faith-based social media platform should invest in each other’s lives. These are ways that members should invest in each other’s lives. They should not make investments to gain anything personally, but at the same time they must realize that when an investment is made, there is going to be some kind of return. Biblically speaking, when a faith-based platform invest in the way I have described, something good is going to happen in everybody’s lives and is also going to happen to the social media platform as a whole.

The Return…:

Just like the four ways that a faith-based platform should invest in people’s lives, there are four returns or expectations that such a platform should have for each and every member and visitor. In other words, when you have been loved, had such platforms giving their time to you and had them guide and support you, these four qualities will be part of your life.

1. Unity: The monks at a remote monastery in England followed a rigid vow of silence. Their vow could only be broken once a year, on fellow monks, by one monk. That monk could speak only one sentence. One monk, Brother Thomas had his turn to speak and said, "I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the roast!" Then he sat down. Silence ensued for 365 days. The next monk, Brother Michael got his turn and said, "I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I truly despise them!" Once again, silence ensued for 365 days. The following monk, Brother Paul rose and said, "I am fed up with this constant bickering!" Some people just cannot get along, can they? When you tell other people about all that true faith-based platforms are doing, and at the same time tell them that the platform you use is united, they find that sometimes hard to believe. They are so used to hearing about fights and splits and bickering between believers, that they have trouble comprehending how any faith-based platform can be moving forward, making changes and demonstrating believer’s unity at the same time. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21) I am not surprised by the unity in some platforms, because I know that if they are truly investing in people the way as described, this is going to be the natural result. This is a return on our investment that we cannot do without.

2. Devotion: The book of Acts gives us the history of the early gatherings. Acts 2 gives us an account of the very first church gathered together in worship. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) These early believers were devoted to four basic things: Apostle’s teaching, Fellowship, Adonai’s Supper and Prayer. Why were they devoted to these things? Because they had been experiencing what it meant to be invested in by YHVH and by each other. That investment led them to pour out their hearts to YHVH and to fellow believers. When people are being invested in, they will begin to have a deeper level of commitment to both our YHVH we worship and to their fellow members on their faith-based social media platforms.

3. Growth: Unlike the stock market, when you are investing in people, you are going to see them going up and not down. They are going to grow to heights beyond your expectation. Sometimes the people which faith-based social platforms invest in will grow beyond their spiritual journey. When the members of such platforms invest in each other, spiritual growth is a sure result. “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” (Romans 1:11-12)

4. Fulfilment: Here is the last return on our investment; when we are ministered to by a true faith-based social media platform; we begin to live a life of satisfaction. We know that we are in the right place, doing what YHVH has called us to do, ministering to others and being ministered to ourselves. Learning from each other. We have found what it is we were looking for.