GOD DESIGNED HUMANS for connection. We are meant to be connected to God, His Word, and His people. Connections are important both spiritually and naturally. We may have expertise and talent in certain areas, but if we don’t have the right connections, we won’t accomplish much.
Everyone has connections. Some of us still stay in touch with high school classmates we played ball with. Many of us have remained connected to people we were with in college. I can go to my hometown and see people I haven’t seen in a long time, but we still have a connection.
We need to stay connected to people who can help us, especially those in our church family. Some are quick to dwell on a negative experience they had in church. They will tell you why going to any church is not good.
Have you ever gotten hurt by what someone in the church said or did? Probably we all have. But that’s not a reason to quit going. We have also received help, healing, and encouragement through people in the church. That’s a good reason to stay connected.
Have you ever been hurt by what somebody in the world said or did? Most of us have. We might not have received the best service at our favorite restaurant. But we don’t stop eating there because of that. And we don’t stop going to work or to a store because somebody said something mean to us. For some reason, people don’t use the same logic when it comes to the things of God. Instead, they are quick to quit attending church.
We Need Each Other
Adam had a relationship with God and had every material resource he needed. Yet, that wasn’t enough. God saw that Adam shouldn’t be alone, so he made a “helper who was just right for him” (Gen. 2:18 NLT).
God designed us to have relationships with more than just Himself. WE NEED PEOPLE, WHETHER WE THINK WE DO OR NOT. Some people don’t make an effort to have a relationship with others. Sometimes they don’t understand how important it is. Or they might have had a bad experience. Others think it’s too hard or requires too much effort.
The truth is, human connections are vital for our well-being. It’s through our relationships with others that we find support, understanding, and a sense of belonging. This is especially true in the local church body. Our relationship with our church family is especially beneficial during times of need. They are there when we need them the most.
Our Top Priority
We can accomplish much through relationship connections. But when we break these connections, we are limited in what we can do. As we work together, we will accomplish great things for God.
Relationships must be a top priority for the believer. Without relationships, we will not function properly.
Fishing nets are made by knotting twine together. The twine and all the knots are important. If any knot or any twine is broken, fish will get through the net. One strand of twine won’t catch any fish. And neither will one knot. But when all the twine is knotted together, the net functions the way it’s supposed to and catches fish.
In the same way, the church can’t reach its full potential unless people are in a relationship with one another. We have to work together, with each part doing its share.
Teamwork Accomplishes More
RELATIONSHIPS BRING OUT THE BEST IN US. WE HELP EACH OTHER BECOME WHO GOD WANTS US TO BE. Ephesians 4:16 says that each person brings a supply. Some people say, “I don’t have anything to offer.” Quit selling yourself short! The devil wants you to feel that way to prevent you from being in a relationship. An attitude like that prevents you from accomplishing what you need to do and hinders the church from accomplishing what it needs to do.
If the enemy can keep us from having relationships, then he can isolate us and cause us to have a bad self-image. Christians should never have a bad opinion about themselves. We have been born again by the blood of Jesus and have been made righteous through Christ. We have a right to come boldly to the throne of grace because of our relationship with God. And we have a right to be connected to other people in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lifelines
On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made their historic climb to the summit of Mount Everest. A few days before the climb, Sir Edmund and Tenzing were taking supplies to a camp up the mountain. On the way back to Base Camp, Hillary jumped across a crevasse in the icefall. The chunk of ice he landed on gave way, plunging him down into the chasm. Norgay dug his axe into the ice and tightened the rope that bound the two, saving Hillary’s life.*
Tenzing Norgay was Hillary’s lifeline. In the same way, believers help each other, and these relationships are lifelines. Time and again, our bond with fellow church members is a source of strength. We see this in the Early Church.
ACTS 2:42, 46–47 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . . .
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.
From these verses, we see the people first began a relationship with Christ. Second, the believers developed relationships with each other. Third, they helped each other in their relationship with Christ. These relational activities built connections that formed lifelines for those believers.
Life is better when we have friends we can depend on. When we have relationships with one another, we have a right to speak into each other’s lives. Where we are strong, we can help someone who is weak. Where we are weak, someone in our circle of friends can help us.
So as we begin the new year, let’s focus on building and strengthening our connections with others. These bonds not only support us in times of need but also enable us to achieve more for God’s Kingdom. This year, let’s make connecting with other believers and nurturing these relationships a priority. Let’s remember that we are stronger when we stay connected and we truly need each other to fulfill our purpose.
Author
Kenneth W. Hagin
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