Community is a Vital Ingredient

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

I can’t think of a better way to do community than that. There will never be a time when both happy and difficult things aren’t happening in our lives.

We all have kid problems, job problems, money problems, marriage problems, health problems. I know we’re all kind of stressed, because life is busy and throws stuff at us every day. Some of us have good news, and some of us have sad news.

I want to hear your good news, even if juxtaposed against my hard news. I will be happy with you and for you! I don’t want you to downplay your joy, just because, at that exact moment, my news is different. We will rejoice together!

If you have hard news, I will cry with you and come alongside you in your sorrow, and together we will remember that joy will return.

There is richness in sharing each other’s highs and lows. It adds depth to our happiness, not unlike the way that residual income adds to our wealth. It is an additional revenue of highs and lows, expanding our lives beyond the boundaries of our personal experiences.

Community is a vital ingredient to a happy, fulfilled life. God didn’t intend for us to do life alone. In community we compound our happiness and share the burden of struggle. —Marie Alvero [1]

Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays. —Andrew Murray

[1] Activated The Joy of Community