Joining With Others is Much Better Than Being a Lonely Seal

Smart people who are serious about accomplishing their goals in life look beyond themselves for help. No person can maximize their potential without assistance from other people. I am reminded of this fact over and over again.

After taking many months off from golf while trying to repair his marriage and image, Tiger Woods and his golf coach Hank Haney parted ways. It seemed that Tiger was determined to get back to championship level play with himself as his swing coach. That plan did not work out to well. It only took a couple of poor performances before Tiger was working with another swing coach.

Smart people who are serious about accomplishing their goals in life always partner with other people to help them succeed.

While exhorting the church at Philippi to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and making him known, Apostle Paul instructed them to join with others in order to make this goal a reality. In Philippians 3:17 he writes, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Apostle Paul knew that if they were going to passionately live for Christ and stand firm against the deception of false teachers, they would have to do it as a church family.

No person committed to accomplishing a goal as lofty as living for Christ as a strong witness can do it by himself or herself. When we operate alone we become easy objects for defeat. In other words, our isolation makes us more susceptible to be devoured by our enemies.

While watching Shark Week with my three boys, I was reminded of this fact once again. Great White sharks congregate off the coast of South Africa because of the high volume of seals located in that area. The seals learn at a very early age that the key to their survival against these fierce predators is joining together. As they leave Seal Island to feed, the smarts ones travel in pods. If one seal lingers behind, or travels out on his own, he becomes a prime target for dinner. The Great White sharks lurk at the bottom and breach with jaws wide open on a loner seal.

Apostle Peter reminded the saints that just like a hungry lion, the devil, looks for people to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” During a hunt, a lion will go after the chosen prey that has wandered from the pack.

When we operate alone, we end up defeated or devoured. It seems our Creator has revealed this truth to us in His creation.

Are you serious about serving God faithfully? Do you want to be all that God has destined you to be for His glory? If so, you cannot do it alone. Only those who join with others as members of a church community will successfully press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and making Him known. The rest are just ringing the dinner bell!