One Big, Happy Family

Bank of America’s television (TV) commercial has a lesson we can all learn from: “Life’s better when we’re connected.”

At the dawn of creation when God created the first man (Adam), he came to this realization in Genesis 2:18 (NOG). “…it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.”

Soon into Adam’s life entered his close friend and independent wife, a companion named “Eve.” Though she had been created from Adam, (in a short amount of time) she was becoming someone he did not want to live without. (Genesis 2:21-25) Just like this famous couple, we need each other.

In the New Testament, this is said of the early church in Acts 4:32 (GW): “The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.”

 In addition to the importance of community, we all need to unselfishly assist others. Life gains true purpose when we change from a “what about me” life focus to a “what about them” life purpose.

One day in the unknown future (at the end of time) all those in the world (at that time) will collectively do what is described in Romans 14:11(ERV) in obedience to the Almighty: “…everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God.’”

Maybe you enjoy being a loner (like me), your Heavenly Father does not wish you to live a solitary life away from the company of others. Do all you can to keep yourself from becoming like the individual described in Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 (NOG).

“Next, I turned to look at something pointless under the sun: there are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do.

Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But they never ask themselves why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.”

The above person sounds like a workaholic. They have chosen to alienate themselves from others for things like work prestige, wealth (and material stuff), or to try to pay down his debt (which is probably getting ever larger by the day).

I am reminded of a hamster running furiously on a plastic wheel. The hamster might think it‘s getting somewhere, but the opposite is true. The only thing happening is exercise. Where it counts (in relationship with others); this individual is going absolutely nowhere fast.

When it comes to you, will the mention of your name among your contemporaries emit such responses (at work for) like: “Who’s that?” or “Is that the hot-head, rude woman on the other side of the wall?” or “I know who you’re talking about. He’s kind, and always helpful no matter what I ask of him.”

Protect the value of your name. (Proverbs 22:1) People’s feelings about you are connected to it. How will people like your co-workers talk about you when all that is left of you is the memory of who you were because you are no longer in the land of the living?