Created For Community: Lessons From Acts 2Sample

The joys of community

“What is poverty?” In response to this question, Western audiences often name the physical things that they perceive those in poverty lack: food, money, clean water, etc.

But in the 1990s, the World Bank posed this question to more than 60,000 individuals living in low-income countries, and their responses surprised researchers. Rather than focusing on physical needs, individuals described the experience of living in poverty as strained relationships; low self-esteem; and feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and isolation.

These insights echo the wisdom in Ecclesiastes, which laments the hardships of solitary life and offers a new alternative: to share in life with others.

At the heart of every Christ-centered community is love. Despite inevitable moments of discord or awkwardness, the ultimate core of community is experiencing the love of others, and, through that, experiencing the love of God. As we do, we can’t help but share with others out of the abundance we’ve received.

When people gather together because of Christ, His presence counteracts the consequences of the Fall, bringing His Kingdom of wholeness to the world and to our hearts. Once again, we can catch a glimpse of the joyful, loving communion the Lord originally intended for His beloved creation.

Action

• Reflect, individually or as a group, on times when the presence of others has helped you overcome emotional, physical, spiritual, or social poverty.
• Rejoice in the community that surrounds you by sharing words of affirmation and thanksgiving for others, either in person or in writing.