Each of us is better off because of others.
God purposefully created each of us
with special insights and giftedness.
He made each of us uniquely individual,
but with a need for community.
Despite our many differences,
we have common ground.Each of us is made in the image of God.
Each of us has needs--body and soul.
Each of us has talents and gifts.
Each of us has joys and fears.
Each of us is broken and flawed.
Each of us has hopes and dreams.
Each of us wants to love and be loved.
Each of us is known by God.
Corinthians 12:15-20 (NIV)Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, "it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, "it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
The past couple weeks I’ve been reflecting on the idea of truly being "better together. "We have to care for each other and look at the whole (instead of just ourselves). We have to reach out those in need and love them "with our words, our time, and our resources. It’s good to love our families. Perhaps this is the most important place to start. We need our church community to help each other grow and learn. We need to reach out in our towns and cities to love those who need food, clothing, childcare. We need to think globally to those in other countries who are displaced by war or hungry or looking for a job.
No one person can meet all these needs. And truthfully, isn’t it God who does the work? If we are available, God will use us, in our family, in our community and beyond.
Here are a few practical ways to begin loving others and building community.
- Begin a dinner (or breakfast) family tradition of asking each family member the highlight of their day.
- Plan a game night and invite friends over.
- Carry $5 gift cards to Starbucks or McDonalds and hand one to a homeless person who’s hungry.
- Travel, expand your perspective and get to know other cultures.
- What else? Be creative, ask God to help with ideas!
We are not meant to be alone.
We need each other.
When we work together,
our gifts complement each other and God is glorified.
No one is better than another.
