Gregarious Grace

“You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf” (Col 1:7).    

“There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.” ––Idowu Koyenikan  

“If everyone helps hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.” ––Askhari Johnson Hodari, Lifelines: the Black Book of Proverbs

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ––African Proverb  

Social science tells us that human beings are gregarious. Humans have an inner instinctive motivation to come together in groups and to enjoy being with others. We see evidence of this behavior in every society on the earth. Something inside tells us that we need to be together. It just feels right! 

We, as the followers of Christ, come together with the highest motivation—to glorify our Savior––and the greatest impetus––immense grace and love. It feels even better!  

When the grace of God is at work in our hearts we are always drawn together with a desire for loving cooperation. The grace of the cross draws us together in trusting, self-giving relationships. Grace that is mutually shared forms many bonds of love within the body of Christ.

As the grace and love of the Savior matures within us it instills a growing desire for fellowship with those who live by the same unfailing grace and love. We daily receive measureless grace, filling us with the desire to dispense from our hearts its overflow to others.

Paul, the apostle who baptized his life’s work in the fathomless grace of the cross, cherished having faithful companions in the gospel. For him there was no other manner of gospel labor but to join hands with others. He knew that it is the combined effort of humble servants of Christ that sees the kingdom of God advanced on earth.

The working of eternal grace within him brought an intense desire for likeminded companionship. Paul found great encouragement and strength to endure hardship and maintain a faithful life through his intimacy with his fellow servants in the faith.

In the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth, we are called upon to work as co-laborers for Christ. There must be a joining of hearts, hands and feet in the work of spreading the gospel around the world. Individualism must give way to communal sharing and mutual dependance.

The sinful nature—the prideful self—will always migrate towards self-sufficiency, separation, and isolation. Such self-centered desires must through daily, humble, repentance be crucified, knowing that loving togetherness is the only God-honoring way forward. Like Paul, we all need faithful ministers of the gospel to walk beside us on our spiritual journey of obedience.