One thing that the early church understood very well, was their need for staying connected with each other. They often went to each other’s house and they would eat together, pray together, encourage each other and bless each other.

Today, we all agree that we have never been so connected, yet we have never been so lonely at the same time. It a real paradox that we find ourselves in and that’s why at WCC, we have been going through series of teachings to help us understand what biblical Christianity is really like.

It’s not just a church’s idea for us to be connected and belong to each other but it’s a heavily emphasized mandate that we are given as Christ’s followers.

Christ’s intent was that the youngest, weakest, newest, the less advantaged ones would always be taken care of in our Christ centered communities. He stresses this point

in the parable he gives about the sheep and the goats in Matt 25:33-40 and in verse 40, he says, “ 40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Jesus paints a clear picture of the actions of those who are truly his disciples. True disciples of Christ, don’t just look out for themselves, they look out for others in need, they will do all that is in their power to meet that need.

In this parable, Jesus references the basic needs of man which is food, water, clothes and shelter but most of us in the first world, our needs are on the second and third level of Marslow’s hierarchy of needs.

So we more often need encouragement, emotional support, and we have a need to belong, validated, counted and so on, and this is exactly what we ought to do for each other, meet the psychological needs since their physiological needs are already met.

So if we look out for each other, Jesus might say on judgement day,

I was discouraged… and you encouraged me.

I was hopeless…and you gave me hope

I was struggling in my faith… and you prayed for me.

I was getting lukewarm…and you came and fired me up.

I was down and worried…and you lifted me up.

Jesus  takes it personally and takes record of each time, you are touched by the need of another believer.  He says, when I step up to be there for my fellow believer in any way shape or form as God has given me ability, I am directly doing that for Jesus himself.

“The strength of the Christian community was not to be measured by a numerical standard, but by its commitment to one another. (By Ellicot)

Scriptures to think about.

Gal 6:10 Niv

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers

Heb 6:10 NLT

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

Mark 9:42 NIV

“If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

1 John 4:20 Niv

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4:21 ESV

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 3:17

If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?