Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“You and these people who come to you will only wear
yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” – Exodus 18:18
It is not good for anyone to
dwell on a physical or emotional “island” apart from the rest of humanity
(Genesis 2:18). In fact, God realized it was not good for Adam to live alone;
therefore He created Eve to keep him company and to help him in tending the
garden. Solomon, the wisest man in the world, also recognized the importance of
relationships (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Regardless of our
nationality, personality, specialty, punctuality, rationality, partiality,
originality, proportionality, sentimentality, constitutionality or
individuality we all have similar goals to succeed at something in life and a
comparable desire to live happily. Our Heavenly Father recognizes that we work
better in a team. This is why He puts Believers in a Body. We each have an ally
in times of trouble. We help one another and protect each other.
Our most common denominator
as human beings is our need for a Savior. When two people join ranks with the
Lord, that three-fold cord cannot ever be broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). God
provided a way for us to be reconciled to Himself through repentance of our
sinful thoughts and ways along with a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and
Lord. It is just that simple! There are no good works to strive for, no penance
to make and no sackcloth and ashes involved. He gives us this firm foundation
for our life as a free gift.
However, most people go
through life oblivious to or ignoring their need for a connection with God.
They struggle with thoughts, emotions and circumstances that threaten to
overwhelm them at times, even to the point of considering suicide. Yet, they
refuse to surrender their life to God. Once we are in right standing with God,
though, we can begin to reconcile with other people in our life with whom we
are experiencing strained relationships.
Those who do submit to God
are then joined to the diverse Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). We are
never alone again. We can go anywhere in the world and find fellowship through
the Spirit of God with other believers. In spite of our differences or our
geographic diversity, the Spirit of God helps us to feel instantly at home with
one another.
We depend upon each other,
laugh together, move in concert with the Spirit and readily help one another.
If one member suffers, we all feel their pain (1 Corinthians 12:26). When
another member rejoices we all share in their joy. Separately God's children lack
stability, but together we can accomplish great things for God in the earth.
Look for other Believers, which God placed in your life, and then allow Him to
weave you into the warp and woof of their fabric.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we thank You for
being the head of Your Body and for allowing us to make up its members. Teach
us our function in Your Body and give us the grace and inspiration to function
in our calling. Allow us to be such a presence in the earth that everyone we
meet will want to believe in You and to be a part of our fellowship.
Thought for the Day:
Too
often, mankind is too self-sufficient to feel the need for redemption.
