Are Likes better than Views?????

We live in a digital society that craves compliments and validation through virtual followers and emoji notifications. An individual’s popularity is figured by how many followers have subscribed to that individual’s various social media accounts and what the response is to the account holder’s daily if not hourly musings. Yet, I pose the question, which is more important? Is it better to be liked or to be viewed? Let’s use Instagram for our experiment.

According to a blog on hootsuite.com: https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-statistics/

- There are over 600 million monthly Instagram users

- Over 40 billion photos have been shared to date with an average of 95 million photos and videos posted per day.

- Instagram users “like” 4.2 billion posts per day

These numbers are astronomical. Everyone from tweens to fortune 500 companies is fighting for “likes”.  

The average photo receives an average of 37 interactions per 1,000 followers, while videos average 24 interactions per 1,000 followers. https://blog.bufferapp.com/instagram-stats-instagram-tips

Here is the point. With all of the effort to beat the Instagram algorithm and garner as many likes as possible, there are some followers who will rarely if ever like the things you post. 

Matthew 7:20, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

People may not like everything you do…

However, they are watching everything you do…

Grab a big glove and catch this. The bible said nothing about testing the fruit to see if it tastes like what it is called. I know an apple, pineapple, banana, or grape before I touch or taste them. An apple will never be a grape and you shouldn’t put effort to be anything other than yourself.

It is ok to go against the majority. Leaders don’t follow the crowd, the crowd follows the leader. Winston Churchill put it this way, “Kites rise highest against the wind not with it!” 

In your efforts to gain likes are you losing your real identity in a filter or a mask?

There are people who are supporting your good morals, great choices, and positive moves without letting you know. Living a righteous life is still the right thing to do even if you don’t get recognized for it.

When we work to please God, He will prepare opportunity for us to get rightfully noticed and “liked”. Matthew 6:33 and Colossians 1:10-12

So, back to the original question. Is it better to be liked or viewed?

Here is my answer. 

Knowing that there are viewers/followers that may never “like” you or physically tell you they “like” you, I believe that you should be the best you everyday. Share your accomplishments be proud of your achievements and witness about God’s faithfulness. If they like you, great. If they don’t, they still saw how good God has been to you. 

Here is a bonus. Likes and views are fun, but God requires more than earthly appreciation. There is a button I love to use on Instagram, it looks like a paper airplane. That button allows me to give others the things that have made me laugh, smile, rejoice, and reflect. 

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples and us were left with a great responsibility. We were told to share.

What have you done worth sharing and who have you shared with/about today?

That's some EXPENSIVE Trash - How to find value where you least expect it

If you were to inventory the least valuable items in your backpack, purse, pockets, or vehicle I am confident you would come up with some pretty interesting objects. However, at some point, those items carried a good value.

I believe that the basis for determining an items’ value rests in understanding the battle between an item’s ownership versus the item’s possession.

Victor VIRGILE—
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

The popular designer, Moschino recently produced a trash themed line of clothing. Of note is a dress made of plastic dry cleaning bags including the “We heart our customers” hanger cover. What’s more entertaining is that the dress retails for $737!

It is the ultimate personification of “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The bag's purpose has trash built into it but designer, Jeremy Scott, refined the trash into an expensive treasure.  Only a creator can find value in broken and discarded pieces…

The difference is knowing ownership versus possession.            

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” Matthew 7:6

In the right hands, anything can have value. However individuals often underestimate their own hands or allow the hands of people with no authority to falsely authenticate their things.  Let me help this make sense.

One of my favorite television shows is called Pawn Stars. It is about a family owned pawnshop that sells nearly anything. People bring their things to the pawnshop and the individual behind the counter gives the seller an estimated value. If the seller agrees, the pawnshop will take the item off the seller’s hands. If the pawnshop dealer is unable to accurately determine value, they call in an expert.

1.     Pawn shops always under pay and often overprice. Everyone you ask to value your heart, hopes, or future will not see them for their worth but will sell them for more than what they paid.

2.     In order to get an accurate assessment you need to go to an educated creator.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalm 139:14

To compliment that verse, 1 john 4:4 says that we belong to God. He doesn’t possess us like a gifted keychain ornament that is tarnished from abuse. He takes pride in the fact that He created us and carries is in the hollow of His hand as a priceless jewel never to be released. (John 10:28)

There is a difference between Possession and Ownership.

You must take ownership of your body

You must take ownership of your heart

You must take ownership of your hopes, goals, and aspirations

Even when others have misused and discarded you/your stuff – it may hurt but it is not la total loss. Avoid the pawnshop middleman and take your stuff to the Creator. Your God can heal your hurt and help you find true value.

Telling firefighters about what sets you on fire is like trying to strike a match against a wet surface. Futile. People can’t rain on your parade if they don’t know what street you are coming down…

Share with those that have been where you're going.

#BeAwesome because God says so 

#BeAwesome because you said so

If you like these posts subscribe to receive them by e-mail or share it on Social Media!

Thank you.

Will Cumby

@willc27 - IG
WilliamCumby.com