No Man is an Island

My primary text today may be a strange one for such a time as this. It comes to us from Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Dr. Henry Cloud is a Christian psychologist and author that I follow. I heard him once share about a crude study that was once done with monkeys. It was designed to measure the effects of relationships on cortisol levels int eh brain. Cortisol is a hormone associated with high levels of stress. They put a monkey in a cage and blared loud music and turned on flashing lights and basically terrified this poor monkey. They then measured the levels of cortisol in his brain. Then they repeated the same test with only one change – they put another monkey in the cage with the orginal. Did all the same stuff and when they measured the cortisol levels it was down by half! 

Dr. Cloud concluded his story with this, “The lone monkey was only half as good at handling stress as the pair was together. So, my question for you guys… who's your monkey?!”

My friends, we need each other. Especially in our troubling moments – but always. God made us this way! Think about it. 

Scripture tells us that before God made us He said this, Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image…”
Consider the language here. When God says “us” who is He talking to? We can only assume He is talking to the other members of the Trinity – Christ the Son and the Holy Ghost. Here it is, God exists in relationshipand we are made in His image. If this be true then it only makes sense that we are made first to be in relationship with God and second with each other. It is all over the scripture. 
Galatians 6:1, “…if anyone is caught in any transgression … restore him in a spirit of gentleness...”

Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another's burdens...”

James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…”

Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

Listen, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we may be physically isolated right now, but that does not mean we have to be relationally isolated! I have had some of the most meaningful conversations with people during this time. I have both lifted others up and been lifted up myself. 

I have two things to say here:
1.     You are not alone. One of the biggest strategies the devil has is to get us to believe that our suffering is unique from everyone else so nobody will ever understand so why reach out? Listen, we are all in this together, in the same boat, for the sake of the illustration above – in the same cage. Many of us have different circumstances. Some are at more risk, we have a number of expecting mothers having or had their babies. Some are on the front lines of this thing. It is hitting us all in unique ways, but it is hitting us all. So, don’t believe the lie that you’re alone! Aside from the powerful truth that God is with you and knows your suffering so do others!
2.     Stay in contact with people! Listen you don’t have to be isolated! Use your phone, facebook, texting, write letters. Check on each other. Especially those who have to remain home alone. Any time anyone crosses your mind reach out to them! You’ve got the time! Our small group still meets on zoom every Wednesday. We are still having our staff and elder meetings online. I facetime with members of my family multiple times a day. I am having regular, daily conversations with mentors and dear friends and our members. Why? Not because I am anything – but because I need you guys! It’s selfish perhaps – but it is the way we were made! 


Let me end where we began, Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

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