If You're Isolated, You're in Trouble

  by  laszlo-photo 

YL Leader Survival Guide, Chapter 7

What's the difference between a strong leader and a weak leader?

Ok, it's not as simple as that. But I'll tell you one difference: A strong leader has a healthy, thriving community. A weak leader doesn't.

Strength in Numbers

Community, a stalwart source of all sorts of spiritual sustenance (say that out loud), is your insulated overcoat in the blistering, ruthless tundra of the ministry field. None of us are stronger by ourselves than we are with a group of people who are committed to caring for us. Because when we are weak they keep our minds clear, encourage us, and remind us of our worth.

As different members of the Body of Christ, we each have a role to fill in a group. The body needs every part available to it to function at peak efficiency. Every part is vitally important. Givers, encouragers, teachers, counselors, etc. freely give their nourishing gifts to strengthen the entire group. And each member needs what every other member brings.

Going lone wolf, especially in ministry, is a recipe for disaster. It's like a quarterback walking onto the field by himself. It's like me trying to drive without my prescription eyewear. Do you really want me to drive on the same road as you without my prescription eyewear?

Here's a helpful scouting report, though. The enemy works to destroy community. So if you want it, you're going to have to fight for it.

The Fiery Arrows of Isolation

Back in the days of swords and bows, armies would shoot flaming arrows into an unsuspecting enemy's camp. But the main use of this strategy wasn't to kill people... it was to cause complete havoc. It was to separate the camp. The attackers knew that an army marching together was much more fearsome than a bunch of isolated soldiers, far from the instruction of their general.

This is how the enemy attacks us. Fiery arrows of isolation keep us from experiencing community. When a person becomes isolated, a person becomes weak.

What do your arrows look like? If the arrows had names, what would they be?

It's Time To Dig Deeper.

Don't be fooled. Community is not just hanging out with people. Community is intentional. It continues outside of team meeting and bible study, and it's one of the sweetest things there is. And often times we don't pursue this higher standard because we don't know there really can be more.

Do you feel nourished by your community? Because if you don't, the people in your group probably don't either.

A good, honest conversation might lead you to openness and depth you've never experienced before in a relationship with a specific friend. I've had some awesome conversations with my close friends about how I desire deeper, more meaningful friendship with them. In my experience, these desires are almost always reciprocated; often times, they were thinking the same thing, but neither of us had said anything!

 Be free to speak about your hopes and desires.  It often leads to deep, newfound spiritual companionship. Don't be afraid to step towards a good friend into deeper relationship; you both might need it.

You're going to have to fight for fruitful community. But it's something worth fighting for.



 Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - "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."

Galatians 6:2 - "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."