Misery Loves Company

Real Dudes,
I recently had a conversation with someone and used the phrase “misery loves company.” This is a phrase that I hadn’t used in a long time. I thought it’d be fitting to bring it up with each of you today as well. 
One author states that, "‘Misery loves company’ means unhappy people find comfort or validation in knowing others share their suffering, either by commiserating (a burden shared is lighter) or by wanting others to be miserable too, making their own pain feel less isolating or unique, a concept rooted in ancient ideas of shared woe.”
An example from the Bible that comes to mind is Martha. Whether she realized it or not, Martha wanted Mary to be just as miserable as she was. Read Luke 10:38-42 and ask yourself, “what company was Martha more concerned about, Jesus or the company of misery?”
Luke 10:38-42 (CSB) 38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Men, don’t get distracted…recognize the signs early so you don’t get sucked into the company of misery. Do some self-examination – What company do you long to be with most often? It’s easy to see where Martha went wrong, but are you able to recognize any Martha characteristics in yourself? How would others describe you? What would Jesus say about you? How is it that you can leave misery far behind and not allow that characteristic to define you? What would change about you if you spent more time with Jesus, rather than marinating in your own misery? And lastly, remember this, just as much as misery loves company, Jesus does too. That’s what he commended Mary for…that she just wanted to be in His presence and sit at His feet. May that be said of each of us as well. 
Practicing His Presence,
Nate
Song: Nothing Else (The Belonging Co, feat. Cody Carnes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUjPMLi5OzQ