When Nancy and I first married, the parsonage where we lived had the church office in the back of the house. My desk, computer, books, and files were all in the room. The room had its own entrance, which served as the main entrance for Nancy and me to enter the house. Every time we left or came home, the noise of the work needing completion was almost deafening. There was a time early in our marriage where the noise of work drew me back to the office in the evening. I was sitting at the desk, when Nancy came around the corner and established a boundary—the desk chair and the work on the desk had my attention throughout the whole day; now she wanted my attention.
The ease of taking work home with us or sliding into the hole of social media draws us away from the fellowship and community built into our lives through relationships. We find ourselves knowing more about what is happening in the world or in an obscure person’s life who we met on vacation last year. The deadline we need to meet gets louder as it approaches and the fellowship with one another becomes less of a priority.
We were made for relationships. When our relationships become less of a priority, we spiral into loneliness and negativity. The fellowship we are called to through scripture places people as a priority over tasks and the world’s definition of success. In Acts 2:46-47 we read, “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
I wonder what would happen if we would move from goal-oriented tasks to more intentional fellowship where we truly live with one another. What would happen if we lived with boundaries where relationships and fellowship are a priority? Would we witness more people coming to faith and growing in faith? Fellowship with God and with one another will bring joy to our lives and our lives will be enriched and the world will be different.
Prayer: O Lord, the distractions of our lives too often draw us away from fellowship with you and with one another. Forgive us when our priorities are out of order, and we become so task- oriented that we forget you made us for relationships. Convict us when our priorities are out of order and draw us back to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.