by Jesse Cougle

I belong to a special group of over 30 million Americans. Our numbers are growing. We inhabited only 17% of homes in 1970, though you will now find us in more than a quarter of all households.

Who are we? We are those who live at home alone.

Not long ago, the only people who lived alone were either strange hermit folk or Obi-Wan Kenobi. But recent advances in technology and increases in wealth have allowed millions of people to support themselves and live as we do. This is a new development that is not without downsides.

I have a pretty comfortable life. My job allows me to work from home most of the week. I come and go as I please. I don't have to deal with other people's mess or moods. I play my music loudly and at all hours. I don't even need to wait in lines anymore, since I do most of my shopping over the internet. I am rarely inconvenienced by others.

Dean recently preached about how we cannot truly follow Jesus without having him interfere with our lives. I think this is a special challenge for those of us who live alone and are used to certain comforts. Following Jesus is often inconvenient. Serving and loving others is inconvenient. Inviting people into our homes and letting them disrupt a night of hot wings and Netflix is inconvenient. But that is what we are called to do.

I suspect I'm not the only one who sometimes feels convicted about the comfortable existence I've created for myself. I know there is much about this existence that is opposed to the kind of life God has called us to live. Those of us who live alone or are just single are able to invest in others in unique ways, and we should not miss the opportunities for serving we've been given at this important time in our lives. Pray for and serve your church and your community. Invite others into your homes. Join a community group. Be around people who inconvenience you, wear you out, and get in the way. By doing so we will be imitating Christ, who lived his life among hundreds of fools like me. May we love and serve as Christ loved and served.

Philippians 2:3-8 - "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."