You need people in your life.
Don’t believe me? I had some biblical realizations over breakfast this morning. Let’s look at the facts.
After God created the world and everything in it, He says it is not good for man to dwell alone. (Genesis 2:18)
That’s the first thing He says about humans other than that we’re very good.
He doesn’t mention our need for food and sleep every day. He doesn’t tell us how to keep warm and find shelter and all those other things science shows we need.
He doesn’t tell us about our identity in Christ, and He doesn’t even tell us how much we need Him.
What does God say we need? Other people.
And then He created Eve.
I used to live like I needed God and nobody else.
At 15 years old, I didn’t believe that anybody outside my family cared about me. Our sweet elderly neighbor asked my sister how I was doing one day and when my sister relayed the message, I said, “What does she care?”
When I saw the same neighbor this week, I hugged her and started a conversation.
I changed between 15 and 19, and trust me, 19-year-old me is much happier. Pain taught me how much I need other people to survive. And I realized not everyone is selfish and unfeeling.
People can be selfish, but we’re all created in the image of God.
That’s why people care about others in an unfeeling world.
Even numbed out by technology, we care about the earthquake in Taiwan this morning, we hope the wars in the Ukraine and Israel will end, and we celebrate cancer survivors. That’s how being made in the image of God plays out.
Needing others is also part of how we’re made in God’s image.
God has the Trinity (The complex concept of the trinity is explained by Cru here.) and then He created us to be His friends.
God craved community so much that He created humans.
And we’re His beloved, even though He knew we would fall and destroy ourselves and break His heart.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
He still did it. Because God didn’t lone wolf eternity.
This article by Chip Ingram shares some brilliant insight about how to feel God’s love and love others well.
Jesus didn’t lone wolf his time on earth either.
He had 12 named disciples, 3 closest friends in that group, and more women and men following Him.
We always emphasize how Jesus took time alone in the wilderness, but He also sought out community.
God didn’t lone wolf eternity.
He called 12 people and in effect, asked them to be his friends and students. Have you asked 12 people outright, “Will you be my friend?”
He went to Samaria to become friends with the women at the well.
He brought some of his disciples with him to the Garden of Gesemethe–His darkest hour–and asked them to pray and keep watch. When you’re wrestling your own demons, do you trust friends to pray and keep you accountable?
And on top of all that, Jesus didn’t retreat to the wilderness just to be alone. He went to be alone with God. God…who is our BFF.
God didn’t lone wolf His life. It’s against our nature to live without community, because we’re made in the image of a community-focused God.
Start investing in your community today! Buy Jennie Allen’s book Find Your People for a step-by-step guide to Biblical community.