40-Day Devotion, Day 17

Prepration: Read Ephesians 4:11-16 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

Warmth: Fellowship

Have you ever left your house for a long trip and couldn’t shake the feeling you’ve forgotten something? You go through every list in your mind and nothing seems out of place. You try to stop thinking about it, but your subconscious continues the investigation even without the help of conscious thought. Then, invariably, as soon as you are just far enough away to not want to turn around, you remember what you forgot.
I think fellowship falls into the category of things we might forget we need, especially if you are like me: independent, self-sufficient, and proud. I love to say, “I can do this on my own, I don’t need any help.” But the truth is, I do. Like you, I was made for relationships. Like you, I crave them, need them, benefit from them. And that is by God’s design. He created us to need each other.
We see evidence of this as early as the second chapter of the Bible. In Genesis 2:18, the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” The power of that gracious gift is as important today as it was in the Garden of Eden. Maybe that’s why the writers of Hebrews encouraged the early Church to continue meeting together and encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25). You see, I need you and you need me! We need one another!
Maybe Solomon explained it best when he wrote: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
Later, he added: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Solomon’s point is God made us to be relational. He made us to need to each other. Even though He can do whatever He chooses without us, God chooses to use us to minister to one another—not for His benefit, mind you, but for ours. To that end, we grow just from spending time with other Christians.
Relationships help people metabolize the truth. God’s Word is the source of truth, but lots of times we need the feedback, insight or experience of another person to really get it to go down. For instance, I read God’s grace covers even my worst sins, but it doesn’t seem possible until I meet another sinner who has received that grace. His experience helps me to digest the truth. I read God loves the unlovable, that He binds the broken-hearted, offers strength and peace even in the midst of tough times, but those things don’t seem real until I spend time with someone who embodies those truths. We need the warmth of a vibrant, close-knit family within the family. God uses those relationships in a powerful way.
So if fellowship is so important, why do we allow it to end up at the bottom of our priority list? For me, the answer is often that life gets busy. I simply fail to make time to connect! Other people I know struggle because they are introverts, and it actually takes great effort and energy to spend time with friends. They know they need people, but it’s hard to leave the peaceful, safe, sanctuary of home. This is an effort worth making! Something better than the security and comfort of home awaits us when we seek fellowship from others. We receive what Solomon said we can’t get anywhere else: warmth.
Fellowship with others—particularly other believers—provides a warm, peaceful feeling of well-being we really can’t achieve on our own. It is this warmth that enables us to function properly and grow in Christ. When I invest in others, I am able to serve as Christ commanded: to comfort, assist or support others. This helps to stretch me and build spiritual muscles. I am able to love as Christ commanded—to show compassion for others, and even provide physical assistance. Likewise, I am able to receive comfort, compassion, physical assistance and emotional support from others, strengthening my faith in Christ in the process.
Maybe best of all, investing in others helps to change my perspective (Romans 12:2). Regular fellowship provides a way for me to get out of my current surroundings and see life from someone else’s eyes, making me thankful for my life and the blessings God has given me. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a perfectly miserable day and just want to go to bed and start fresh the next day. But instead of curling up with a movie, I went to a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday service, and, once I got there, a smile from a friend lifted my spirit. A hug from another reminded me I am loved. Volunteering to help carry the load gave me a sense of belonging and importance and, before I knew it, my entire countenance had changed. I was lifted from my depression and freed from my negative state of mind.
Fellowshipping with other believers on a regular basis fosters trust, patience, selfishness, hope and security. (To continue reading, go to my comment below.)