Involve Others, Invite Input
Nov. 17 2007
It was a danger sign I’d never seen before. And it was really specific.
“Rattlesnakes. Beware, Do Not Go Down These Cliffs.”
I was taking Trail Hiking 101 to fulfill one of the random requirements of my college degree and I found myself with my group, face to face with that sign. Our trail guide said, “Hey everyone look at the sign.” It was right at the top of a steep cliff leading to a river below. I looked. But iwhen I saw it I thought, “Rattlesnakes? Come on. No one’s ever seen a rattlesnake in Maryland. That’s Arizona. Give me a break.”
So I isolated myself from the group and began making my way down the rocks. I could see the cool water below me and couldn’t wait to get in. I was jumping from rock to rock when, suddenly, about to jump, I saw what was on the rock I was about to jump onto:
Not one, not two, but three rattlesnakes.
They were sunning themselves on the next rock, oblivious to me. I managed to avoid getting sent to the emergency room but learned something pretty important: I need help from other people.
We’re created to need others. In the beginning we were created to first have fellowship with God and then have fellowship with each other. We were never created to get by alone, to simply trust our own thoughts and opinions. So I want to introduce a very simple but necessary concept: biblical involvement in a local church means involving others in your life and inviting their input.
Why we can involve others
The basis of both our fellowship with God and our relationship with other people is the Gospel. The Gospel unites us to God through faith so deeply and pervasively that we’re not only united to God, but we’re now united to His people.
1 John 1:3 says, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (ESV).
Our fellowship with other believers is linked to our fellowship with God. Fellowship with each other is in essence, fellowship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ—it is a reflection of our fellowship with God the Father. God has dramatically altered our relationships with other Christians. We now share in the same spirit, in the same hope, in the same faith, in the same Lord as other believers. We’re tied to one another now through Gods’ spirit. We’re brought into a living union with God and with His Son, through the Gospel. We’re brought into a living relationship with one another. So now lets take a look at what it means to involve these people we have fellowship with in our lives.
Our temptation not to involve others
Proverbs 18: 1-2 says, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (ESV). The man pictured in this verse isolates himself. What he is doing flies in the face of the community that he’s been brought into. He’s there with them, but he doesn’t involve them in his life. He doesn’t want input. He thinks he’s fine on his own.
Are you isolating yourself from that community? Separating yourself from this community? When you do you isolate yourself from the grace and help that God intends to give you through other people.
But let’s be honest, sometimes isolating ourselves can be an expression of our desire to go our own way. I can start to think, “I want to do what I want to do, so I’m going to separate myself—maybe not in all areas, just in this one. I’m not going to get counsel. This is something I really want to do.” I’ve experienced this in my life, and I don’t want you to. The result of this, verse one says, is that this person “breaks out against all sound judgment.” That’s the result of isolating yourself.
How to involve others
Proverbs 11:15 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” This verse makes a connection for us: No guidance equals defeat.
We all need help because we’re blinded by our own sin, so there is safety through wisdom and counsel. Scripture calls us to weigh decisions, to weigh choices, to weigh our preferences against counsel. Purposefully involving people in your life means….
_Going to others when you’re making decisions and choices.
_Going to others when you need help discerning your sin.
_Going to others when you need encouragement to pursue godliness.
_Going to others when you make decisions about how you should spend your time and your money.
So want to know if you’re doing a good job involving others and making them a part of your life? Consider these questions: Do others know what you do with your time? Do you they know what you do after work? Do they know what you do at work? Do they know what you do at school? Do they know what you like to do with your free time? Do they know who your friends are? Do people have a knowledge of you beyond what they see at church and in your small group?
Involve people in your life. Then ask them for input. When you do you’ll enjoy the grace of God and grow in wisdom.
Here’s some simple homework to get this into your life:
1. Enlist 3 people in your life that you value and trust.
2. Come up with 3 specific questions you want others to ask you regularly.
3. Also, ask your 3 people if there is anything they are presently concerned about in your walk with the Lord.
4. Ask again in 2 months.
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Isaac Hydoski is a pastor in the ONE ministry at Covenant Life Church.
This material is taken from Isaac’s message Involve (right-click to download).