In a state of exhaustion and despair, at the 5-year anniversary mark of serving in Uganda, I sent an email to friends and ministry partners pleading for prayer. In response to learning of my struggles, a small army of brothers and sisters in Christ lifted me up in prayer and helped me walk through a difficult time.
I’m glad that I didn’t let my pride keep me from reaching out for help. Had I refrained from doing so, I would have entered into deeper isolation, and I could have fallen apart from the weight of the stress I was under.
In the Old Testament, we learn of many occasions when people were separated from community as a form of punishment for sins such as eating leavened bread, making incense for personal use, failing to observe the Sabbath or being ceremonially unclean (Exodus 12:14-15, Exodus 31:13-15; Leviticus 7:20-22).
Today, solitary confinement is reserved only for the worst criminals. Yet many of us inflict punishment on ourselves by choosing isolation over community. Whether we fear being vulnerable, are ashamed of something we’ve done, or simply don’t feel like talking, we sometimes believe it’s easier to withdraw than to be real with other believers in Jesus.
Though we need periods of solitude and times alone with the Lord, withdrawing from Christian fellowship is unhealthy. That’s why the believers in Acts set the precedent of biblical community. “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
By coming together as believers, we’re obeying a command of Jesus that’s also a beautiful gift from Him to us (Acts 2:46-47).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 15:32–16:12
More:
Read Philippians 2:1-2 and note what it says about the characteristics of true Christian fellowship.
Next:
When have you experienced the awe of the Lord as you’ve joined with others in Christian fellowship? What can you do to experience richer fellowship with other believers?
ruth o'reilly-smith on July 21, 2013 at 10:33 am
Roxanne, our world has become obsessed with the pursuit of happiness and we go to great lengths to create the impression through social media and brief encounters with strangers, colleagues, friends or family, that we’re ‘happy’. It’s liberating to have people we can be vulnerable with about our weaknesses. We need people who love us, support us, encourage us, pray for us and challenge us no matter where we’re at or what we’re going through. These are people and relationships we have to seek out though, intentionally. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reminds us of the value of companionship. I recently read a quote that reminded me to ask and seek help: Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it – W. Clement Stone
roxanne robbins on July 21, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Ruth, Thanks for sharing such good insights and for referring to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 in the context of Christian community.
winn collier on July 22, 2013 at 3:51 pm
we need other’s faith to lean on at times. I don’t know what I’d do if I were truly on my own.