Bible Passage: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1 ESV)
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:19-25
Life transitions can be tough.
I learned this when I relocated my family to a new province where I had very few connections.
Throw in a pandemic, some traumatic experiences, and a good dose of introversion, and isolation for me was no longer theory but a reality.
I am not alone in this.
We often hear about the “loneliness epidemic,” and men are not immune to it:
- In Canada, nearly 50% of men feel socially isolated, rising to 73% among men living alone.[1]
- 1 in 10 Canadians often or always feel lonely, rising to nearly 1 in 4 among those aged 15 to 24.[2]
- A US study found that people in the top 25% of social media usage were over twice as likely to feel lonely.[3]
Paradoxically, the more time we spend on “social” media, the less social we are.
Jonathan Haidt states: “This is the great irony of social media: the more you immerse yourself in it, the more lonely and depressed you become.”[4]
This generation has never been more connected, yet has never been lonelier.
Solomon may not have had Instagram, but he understood loneliness and its impact on wisdom: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1 ESV)
His wisdom warned of the dangers of isolation from real community and wise counsel. Isolation happens by choice or circumstance, but in either case, the result is a greater focus on ourselves than on others.
Men need to resist the notion of the “self-made man” and strive for sound judgment and wise, balanced decision-making in community and through the counsel of trusted friends.
Solomon said, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). There is great value, support, and growth in finding that kind of connection that isolation cannot provide.
We need to live in healthy relationships and within a biblical community, and find real brotherhood that encourages and helps us live a God-honoring life.
This will require humility, openness, and wise counsel, rather than stubborn or pride-filled independence.
The lordship of Jesus extends beyond our spiritual lives into our relationships. When we surrender our isolation to Him, He offers real connection and community.
It may require intentionality and effort to disconnect online so we can reconnect in person with family, old friends, or a new band of brothers. The effort is worth it.
Prayer: Lord, help me be less connected to my devices and more connected to You, to the people closest to me, and to my faith community, where I can grow and be used for Your glory. Amen.
Reflection: Have your online habits contributed to loneliness or isolation? What have your digital habits modeled for your family or friends? How have they affected your spiritual growth or your participation in your local church? Does anything need to change?
[1] https://ottawa.cmha.ca/the-quiet-crisis-why-so-many-men-feel-alone/
[2] https://www.cma.ca/healthcare-for-real/how-does-loneliness-fuel-misinformation
[3] https://health.oregonstate.edu/news-and-stories/2025-10/loneliness-us-adults-linked-amount-frequency-social-media-use
[4] Haidt, The Anxious Generation, 242.
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