Greeting people that you think they don't like you

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them. It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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I know it's painful when you greet someone, but they completely ignore you.

I had that happen to me all the time when I was living and working in South Korea.

Here's a short story -

My Bible study leader at church would greet a church elder regularly.

However, the church elder completely ignored my Bible study leader for about a month.

My Bible study leader continued to greet the church elder even though the church elder was completely ignoring him.

Because my Bible study leader continuted to greet the church elder, after awhile....the church elder began responding to my Bible study leader's greetings.

Hope this helps a bit.

May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them. It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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This may sound odd, but this is not your problem, it's God's problem. I'm praying for you because it IS a difficult situation. However i would not want to join the ranks of their behavior and then be caught up in that "trap". Leave it in God's hands. Pray about this. Focus on any of them that WILL speak to you, and start from there, and say hello to any around this person, and continue focusing on this one person afterwards. Ask God to give you a sense of humor about it. Humor is a specific kind of "armor" believe it or not, and it's God's genius way of breaking through many situations that nothing else seems to budge. Do this for GOD, not for them, nor yourself. Praying for you brother (((hug)))

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them. It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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Be not weary in doing good for in due season you shall reap.

I worked with a woman for three years who was a secretary at the gym I teach gymnastics. My wife gave me a hat that she made fun of and I told her I did not like her comment. She gave me the cold shoulder from then on. I made a point to greet her by name and say hello while her response was silence in ignoring me. She had the attitude problem, which eventually crossed hairs with the son of the owner and she got fired. I saw her crying while the owner was dismissing her. Afterwards I told her that I thought she was still an excellent worker. She thanked me for my kind words which was the first time in three years that she was nice to me in return.

I don't know how God will use the experience, but we always over come evil with goodness.

Matthew 5:43 - 5:48


43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Brother, love everyone as you have been told to do. For, God is love, and love is God. Do not worry about whether someone cares for you or not, because if they don't? Leave it to God! You are His. And it is His business to deal with those that feel evil towards you. Especially when Jesus Himself said thus:

John 15:18-27

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them. It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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You only don't greet someone if they are evil.

However, someone not liking you isn't always a sign they are evil. Sometimes, they simply find you unfamiliar or don't trust you yet.

You should keep greeting and smiling to them unless you discern them to be evil.

There are people who do not know how to love. They are missing out on so much. So, have compassion for them.

I am getting more into smiling at everyone and saying hi and maybe saying something friendly or funny. But I try . . . also . . . to be sensitive . . . not to push myself on anyone. I think I can be prayerful so I am relating the way God knows is good, with each person. This takes correction of myself and growing.

There is a woman at a grocery store, who seems to have a problem with me; she won't look at me and can seem to act nasty and conceited. Or, this is what she thinks is playing hard-to-get, or she just can't handle certain people; I should not assume I have her figured out

But we pray for her and be good to her the same as any other worker. She does not get special attention of criticizing or of me trying to get her favor more than how I am kind and appreciative and encouraging with every worker.

I am not trying to make her look bad; but if I am being pleasant with everyone and she makes a project of treating me like dirt, she will make herself stand out as not an outstanding person.

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Well my guess is that some people are just quite reserved around people they don't really know well, maybe even rude... It doesn't have to be anything personal against you. Maybe try find an excuse to talk to them more once, maybe you'll get to know them better and then you'll find out what they really think. In the meanwhile, let them be what they are and act like they want to, and keep on being friendly.

We have a neighbour too, who wouldn't greet us for almost a year, even though she lives next door. She'd always make sure to look away when we were outside or in the hallway, trying to say hello. But after like 9, 10 months or so I git fed up with trying to greet her, I just ignored her as well because I thought, ok, keep your ptrivacey then, we don't have to talk. And then, suddenly, she sometimes started to say hi to our kids and smile at them, now ahe might even talk to us for a while if we all happen to be in the yard in the same time... And she'll wave and say hi when we ass by. I don't know what her problem was in the beginning, and I don't care to ask for now. I'm just happy we're on more normal terms now.

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them.

It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

I understand the struggle.
First, I am from a culture that generally is reserved, so I never minded this. But since I moved to a country with more heartly people, it is more obvious that someone doesnt like you.
In my case its hard because it happens more in the church I attend than in other social situations. And if it wouldnt be enough, I am very introverted....and yes, it hurts, we feel rejected.

But the Bible says, that we should love our enemies. So when I love someone, I greet them. I wont ignore him. When he or she does ignore me, it isnt my problem.
The only real advice I have is to pray, to fall on your knees and beg God to open our hearts and the hearts of the others, so His perfect love and salvation can come in.

Guerrier said:

Here's the thing. Where I live there is a store that sells cars and fixes them. And some of the people I see almost everyday when I go out, I tend to greet one or two. But I get this feeling that they do not like me and it hurts in my heart "literally" when I greet them. It's like I'm doing something wrong. Should we greet one another even-though they don't care about us?
What does the Bible say? I'm conflicted, and think I should not greet people that don't care about me, but it's a politeness act I do and try to be nice to people.

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I really do not worry about people greeting me in a certain way.

... Let us start from there.

Matthew 24:12

I do the greeting at church sometime and give everyone a friendly greeting even those I dont like.