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What About One Another?

by Jerry Ousley  
4/03/2010 / Christian Living

Back in the late sixties a group called Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song that stated, "I am a rock, I am an island." It indicated that no matter what happened to them they could stand strong and that they had isolated themselves so no one else could hurt them. It may sound like a noble statement, but in reality we are flesh and bone and we have been created as social creatures and cannot function normally without contact with other people.

I have to confess that it has been a battle in my own life to get close to others. As a minister you feel like you need to have all the answers, all the time, and that you can never get down because you've always got to be positive. We've been taught and frankly, most people expect, their minister to always be up, never depressed and ready with the answers they need in their lives. The truths of the matter are no one minister or not can completely and always fulfill such a role. That's because we are all human. We all need friends and someone we can confide in. That's a lesson I've learned the hard way. I've shared many of my own blunders, mistakes, and sometimes out right sins with you through these programs. I've done that because frankly people need to know that ministers are human too. They do make mistakes and they do need friendships and understanding from others.

I'm reminded of a time when I let three very good back-yard mechanics think that a major department store put the wrong spark plugs in a package. The fact was that the store didn't have the size of plugs I needed and I picked the size that was the closest. That didn't work! But rather than let these men see my imperfections and ignorance, I allowed them to believe something that wasn't true. With egg all over my face, God hit me hard in the heart and I had to call each of those men and explain what had really happened. It let them know that I wasn't perfect. But you know what? In the long run I think they respected me more for owning up to my lie than they would have if I had let my ego remain intact.

We need each other and the Bible has many statements giving us instructions on how to treat each other. Here are some examples:

Romans 12:10 tells us to first be devoted to one another and secondly to honor one another above ourselves.

Romans 15:5 tells us that we are to be like-minded with one another.

Romans 15:7 tells us that we are to accept each other just as Christ has accepted us.

Galatians 5:13 tells us that we are to serve each other in love.

Galatians 6:2 tells us that we are to carry each other's burdens.

Ephesians 5:21 tells us that we are to submit ourselves to each other out of reverence for Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:13 tells us that we are to accept each other and forgive those things that come between us.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we are to encourage and build each other up.

And 1 Peter 4:9 tells us to be hospitable to each other without grumbling or complaining.

I'd say that this is a lot of proof that we need each other. Always remember that the sign and evidence of our Christian experience is that we love one another. All of these passages that talk about how we should treat our fellow believers are examples of this love. This is how the world knows that we are Christians. It isn't by how holy we are or how much we know, but how much we love our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey", "Ordeal", "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Newer books include "Finality" and "Dividing God's Church." Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge

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