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As loneliness rises across all age groups, experts suggest that one of the simplest remedies is surprisingly old-fashioned: invite people over. Casual hospitality—like backyard barbecues and weeknight dinners—may offer powerful relief in an isolated world, but are we willing to go against the grind?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, 1 in 3 Americans feels lonely every week, but for younger adults, ages 18-34, this prevalence is even worse. While many attribute this rate to living in a post-COVID world, studies show 25% were actually lonelier before. While technology helps form relationships, connects us with others, and is beneficial, many are split on whether these interactions and connections are meaningful or superficial.
In this debate between meaningful relationships and superficial ones, individuals are conflicted on what could actually cure this loneliness pandemic. According to the APA’s study, here is how individuals are presently coping:
- 50% find a distraction (like TV, podcasts, or social media)
- 41% go for a walk
- 38% reach out to friends or family
- 31% connect to a pet
- 31% exercise
- 26% eat more than usual
- 13% use drugs or alcohol
- 9% connect to a therapist or counselor
- 6% volunteer
Although this list can be helpful, what if Jesus has already provided a better solution to the loneliness problem? Nothing is wrong with a little exercise, loving on your pets, or talking to a therapist; I do all three. But what if there’s something that could help, tracing back to our generation? To our creation story? To Genesis 1:1? Yet, we’ve forsaken it for screens and 21st-century means instead?
In Genesis, God creates the Heavens and the Earth, and everything in them. But when He creates Adam, Adam has no one to identify with. He’s made in God’s image—a huge honor. He is to reign over all the animals. He has a purpose in tending to the land. But God notices that Adam has found no one is exactly like Him—and this is not good. Houston, we have a problem.
Genesis 2:18-25 explains the account this way: “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still, there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame” (Genesis 2:18-25, NLT).
Loneliness was solved through connection with God, companionship with others, and a humble service towards those around us (hospitality). I wonder if we can learn to apply a similar idea today? Let’s begin by defining true and biblical hospitality.
