Working Together

I know I am the type of person that only likes to work by myself. When I'm doing a project for school, or just going through life, I like to trust myself. That way, I know that anything that comes out of the project is MY work, MY effort, and MY problem. I know I won't get a lowered grade because of some person that wastes their whole time and blows off their project. It's just easier to trust in myself. And sometimes, I think that trusting other people in general is a waste. Being in relationships are rewarding, sure, but they often leave a person disappointed, heartbroken, or not wanting to pursue any new relationships for a long time. It's often easier to go through life relying on yourself to do what you need to do. It's the more detached, simpler route that I think a lot of people take at different levels. But, in the past week and a half, I have been learning that collaboration, and relationships with different people are way more important than I thought.

First of all, think of how much more you could accomplish with the help of others. I bet every single person has gotten excited over an idea or thought to change the world. But, if you are like me, if probably fizzled out once you realized how hard it was. All the things I think of to do are too hard for one person, but maybe not a team of 5. And if you could get something done with 5 people, imagine how much you could do with 20! My point is, if you do something with other people, not just yourself, we would have much more success getting those ideas off the ground.

Another thing about not relying on yourself is that if you learn to trust and form strong relationships with a lot of people, you spare yourself a lot of lonliness and isolation. I was at a weekend retreat this weekend, and we were sharing things about our lives that were hard or discouraging. There were some aspects of my life that I was sure no one else had gone through, but I finally told people, just to get it off my chest. Turns out that more than half the group was experiencing the same thing! I think humans are more alike then I give us credit for. Everyone is unique, but everyone is made in the image of God, and is therefore similar at the core.

God created us to be in many strong relationships. He says over and over in the Bible to surround yourself in a community of believers, and work with other people. I think when we do that, we are showing God that we are thankful for people has put in our lives, and that we understand that people were meant to be together.

I know a ton of people have a self-reliance issue, and this past couple of weeks has really highlighted some of the benifits of being in a crowd of people to share your journeys, and the power of people workng together.    

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Eccelations 4:9-12 ESV

Grace