The value in community
Community. I think at this point, we all know that community is best for us. That it is desirable and that it provides a greater satisfaction in life. That we cannot do it all on our own, that we are not meant to carry the burden of it all on our own. But there seems to be a disconnect in knowing this and bringing this truth to life in our lives.
So where is the disconnect? What does the disconnect reveal to us? Well, there are two things that I believe this reveals.
We believe society over God’s word
We prefer our comfort zone instead of fellowship
My family lives in America, and since a very young age we are taught that we need to be independent, we need to strive for success, no reliance on anyone else is the goal. We place independence higher than family, joy, contentment and quality of life. But at the end of the day, what does independence give you? Should it be placed so high by American society? Looking at the typical Americans happiness level, it becomes clear that our values are not right. That something is off.
So how do we combat this? How do we practically change our life, our day to day to align it more for joy and contentment? For the things in life that actually matter for decades to come?
This is not an easy task. But our families need us to step up and be willing to take the steps to make it happen. We must be willing to be different, we must be willing to go against the grain of society. We must be willing to be bold in our beliefs. In order to be filled with boldness, courage and reserve for the challenging times, we must fill ourselves with God’s word. We must spend more time in God’s word than we do in the things of this world. For example, when we wake up do we grab our phone for social media or the headlines or do we grab our bibles? Before bed do we watch a show filled with language, sex and violence or do we read scripture and spend time with God? Unless we are willing to make these changes in our lives, nothing will change in our life.
We also must be willing to step out of our comfort zones. We all know staying home, ordering in food, and watching tv until bed is easier than going to a small group from church. Easier than going to a friends and encouraging them through a challenging time. But which option is going to fill you with more satisfaction? Which option is going to fill you with laughter, joy and fun? Convenience and comfort are not what we are meant for. As followers of Jesus we are called to live as Jesus did. Which does not revolve around convenience and comfort, but rather around loving others and devoting ourselves to the needs of those around us. To loving in a sacrificial manner and being obedient to the call of God on our life.
If we are willing to devote more time to scripture, worship and time with God and we are willing to leave our comfort zones for obedience, then I believe we will find ourselves not only in more community but also more filled with joy and contentment! We may find ourselves feeling more full, having more energy, laughing more and overall enjoying life, instead of just going through the motions. Jesus said He came so we could have life and have it to the full, are you following Him and experiencing life to the full? Or are you struggling believing Him and holding back? His word never changes, you simply must trust and move forward, and watch God fulfill His word in your life!
