Students crave community.
That’s why you live on campus in ridiculously small, smelly dorm rooms with weird roommates and share two-stall bathrooms with the eleven other students on your hall. That’s why you join on-campus organizations. That’s why you go to parties. That’s why you eat in the dining hall rather than ordering take-out. That’s why you play in intramural sports leagues each semester. And even if you are uncomfortable with face-to-face interaction with people, chances are you have a Facebook page or Twitter account. You can’t stand to be out of touch with the world that surrounds you. How appealing would these things be if you didn’t crave the excitement of being around people?
Sure, you could argue that you live on-campus because that’s the only housing option for underclassmen. You joined an organization because it will look good on your resumé. You go to parties because your roommate drags you. You eat in the dining hall because you’re broke. You play intramurals to stay in shape. You made a Twitter account because you wanted to see how many times a day you can express yourself in 140 characters or less. Sure, you could make those arguments.
But, guess what. You don’t just crave community because that’s the type of person you are or because that is the life stage you’re in right now. You crave community because God created it for us. He intends for us to be in community with one another.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) says “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” God wants us to be in community so that we are able to protect ourselves and support each other. One person can be overpowered, whether physically, mentally, emotionally – whatever. With a friend, though, that person can fight back. And the more who join the community, the larger the support system becomes.
Be careful, though -- the Bible doesn’t advise us to take just anyone as our friend. We are instructed very clearly not to be mismatched with unbelievers. Don’t misinterpret this as saying we are not to love everyone, because that is not in line with what Jesus teaches, either. It means that while we love and care for all we must be very careful and intentional who we go to for spiritual development and help with important decisions in our lives. We should surround ourselves with those who are mature in their faith so that we can strengthen ours as part of a body of support and accountability.
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) advises us to “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
You've heard the old adage, you are the company you keep.
What kind of company do you want to be?
That’s why you live on campus in ridiculously small, smelly dorm rooms with weird roommates and share two-stall bathrooms with the eleven other students on your hall. That’s why you join on-campus organizations. That’s why you go to parties. That’s why you eat in the dining hall rather than ordering take-out. That’s why you play in intramural sports leagues each semester. And even if you are uncomfortable with face-to-face interaction with people, chances are you have a Facebook page or Twitter account. You can’t stand to be out of touch with the world that surrounds you. How appealing would these things be if you didn’t crave the excitement of being around people?
Sure, you could argue that you live on-campus because that’s the only housing option for underclassmen. You joined an organization because it will look good on your resumé. You go to parties because your roommate drags you. You eat in the dining hall because you’re broke. You play intramurals to stay in shape. You made a Twitter account because you wanted to see how many times a day you can express yourself in 140 characters or less. Sure, you could make those arguments.
But, guess what. You don’t just crave community because that’s the type of person you are or because that is the life stage you’re in right now. You crave community because God created it for us. He intends for us to be in community with one another.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) says “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” God wants us to be in community so that we are able to protect ourselves and support each other. One person can be overpowered, whether physically, mentally, emotionally – whatever. With a friend, though, that person can fight back. And the more who join the community, the larger the support system becomes.
Be careful, though -- the Bible doesn’t advise us to take just anyone as our friend. We are instructed very clearly not to be mismatched with unbelievers. Don’t misinterpret this as saying we are not to love everyone, because that is not in line with what Jesus teaches, either. It means that while we love and care for all we must be very careful and intentional who we go to for spiritual development and help with important decisions in our lives. We should surround ourselves with those who are mature in their faith so that we can strengthen ours as part of a body of support and accountability.
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) advises us to “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
You've heard the old adage, you are the company you keep.
What kind of company do you want to be?
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