Stop Retreating!
Genesis 2:18 (NLT)
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone…”
When you read the early chapters of Genesis God describes His creation as good over and over again. The man, Adam, being alone is the only thing God describes as not good. So, very soon after this verse, God created Eve to end the aloneness of Adam. At this point in Genesis sin had not entered the Garden, no serpent, no suffering, no working by the sweat of the brow AND perfect fellowship with God. Despite Adam being in paradise with perfect fellowship with God, God said it was not good for Adam to alone.
Adam didn’t need a human connection because of some defect in his person or attitude. Adam needed a human connection because God created him for connection. God designed us to be connected to each other.
Life has a lot of stresses. Even when you love and follow Jesus, there are still lots of stresses. Money pressure, enduring seasons of grief, conflict at work, home, or church community, etc… I’m sure you could make your own list of very real stresses.
In those times of stress or struggle there is an awful temptation to retreat from each other. To get away alone and think that just you and God can handle it. Or to hide away so that no one can see your struggles or faults. My thought is this, if it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone in paradise it is certainly not good for us to be alone when it is definitely not paradise. Here are just a few New Testament passages that underscore how much followers of Christ need to stay connected to one another.
• Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
• Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
• Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
• Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
• Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
• Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
• Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
• Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
• Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
• Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
• Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
• Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
• Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
• Stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
• Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
• Pray for one another (James 5:16)
• Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)
All those “one anothers” can only occur if we stop retreating.
All those “one anothers” can only occur if we reach out and let others know we are there for them.
I need the “one anothers” not because I suffer some kind of defect. No, God designed me and you to need each other in our lives. So let’s fight the temptation of retreating AND let’s all reach out in love to one another.
God Bless,
Br. Neal
churchtrac