It is crazy how life gets so busy. We don’t really take the time to connect with others on an in-person basis the way we used to, and the way we should. Growing up in a house on my great-grandparent’s farm, we were surrounded by people coming in and out frequently. One of my favorite places to be was in the swing or glider on my great-grandparent’s front porch that was filled with family, neighbors and friends. It was normal to see others on a regular basis just hanging out there on that front porch spending time together.
I have cousins that live within a thirty to forty minute drive. We rarely see each other. We talk about it a lot but we just don’t seem to make the time. I was talking to one of these cousins awhile back and we both could not believe how long it had been since we actually had touched base physically. I have watched her kids grow up on social media but have actually seen them in person a handful of times. We spent more time together as children in summer vacation trips living eight hours away than we have as adults that live thirty to forty minutes away.
Personally, I think where we do see everyone on social media, and watch the stories of their lives pass by on the screen, our minds think it is a physical connection and we don’t really realize that it has been a long, long time since we have been together. We do participate in other people’s lives via the social media screen, rarely making actual contact, and then we wonder why we are not close like our parents were with their family and friends years ago. Of course, this was back in the days when they made an effort to spend time together, worship together, eat together, celebrate together, mourn together….live life together.
It seems that the Church is facing the same issue. People in the early Church spent much time together, worshipping, eating, celebrating, mourning….living life together. The Church of today seems to be far removed from the day to day goings on of the early Church. In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul was writing to the church in Philippi, commending them and encouraging them to continue in fellowship, continue spending time together.
In verses 1-2, he urges them to be likeminded. He tells them that if they love each other at all, or have fellowship with the Spirit, or have pity, sympathy or affection and mercy toward others that they are to make the effort to be of one accord, one mind with each other. He told them that in this way they would bring to him joy in knowing their fellowship was strong, that the time they spent together meant something.
Paul exhorts them to think of others more than they think of themselves, to put the needs of others before their own needs. He asks them to not look on the things they need but look at what other’s needs are.
That was what people did back before the Industrial Revolution (that was supposed to make life better.) They spent time together, worshipped together, ate together, celebrated together, mourned together….lived life together. A lot of times they put the needs of others before their own needs. I know that my great-grandparents did!
It is not natural for us to look at the needs of others above our own needs. That is the challenge that this passage puts out there for us though. I would not say that God would want us to endanger our own families, but I would think that the majority of western civilization has the means to help someone that has less than they do. That five dollars we throw in our overflow jar could mean gas for someone to get to work. That extra coat, or two (or three) could mean warmth to someone that does not have one coat. Those extra cans of food in our pantry could mean that the rumbling in someone’s stomach could be eased. It doesn’t take much for someone that has less than we do.
I think for us to apply this passage to our lives we need to open our eyes to those around us. Maybe we need to start with making an effort to spend more time with our family, neighbors and friends. It was through those relationships that our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents found out about the needs of their communities. Maybe one person cannot change the whole world, but they can make a little bit of change to a small part of it.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened when I see people coming together to make small and big changes to lives around them. It shows me that God’s Spirit is still moving and urging us to spend time with each other and find out what the needs around us are.
Lord, there are more people populating Your earth, but we seem to be growing farther apart. Help us, as Your children, to seek out our brothers and sisters and make an effort to do the things that Your Word teaches us to do. Help me keep my eyes open to those around me in my place in this world. Help us as Your Church to seek to spend time together as the early Church did and care for each other in the same way.
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“2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:1-4 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 