Our culture teaches us that we must be strong. We must be self-sufficient. Survival of the fittest; kill or be killed; show weakness and die.The sad fact is that not only our secular culture pushes these false ideals, but many times the culture of the church pushes these same misconceptions.
I just got off of the phone with a friend that has been going through a tough time in his ministry. At times, he has felt that he had no one to turn to; like he was on an island with no one to rescue he and his family. He is not alone. There are countless leaders and their wives that, no doubt, feel this same way.
Sometimes we set sail for islands on our own, because we feel that we can not trust others. Maybe we have been legitimately been hurt, misused, or abused. Using these numerous and possibly legitimate excuses we set sail in our ship, the USS Bitterness, with guns ready and our defenses at high alert.
Other times we find ourselves washed up on the shore, ship wrecked on an island with no fault of our own. The storms of life have isolated us. We can not find an anchor.
Either circumstance can happen to anyone of us if we allow ourselves to drift away from others. Therefore, we must take a risk...reach out...cry out! We need others.
Also, we who are not struggling at this time, must be on the lookout. We must be attentive to the needs and hurts of the people around us. Leadership is a lonely place. We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom 15:1). Ready the rope; check the life preserver; maintain the lifeboat...be ready!
One day it maybe you stuck on an island.
Look around today. Do you see a home missionary, neighboring pastor, a lonely evangelist struggling? Take him to dinner. See if you can encourage him.
The life you save may be your own!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
