The Power of Community in Loneliness

By Dean Collins

Community matters even in moments where you may feel or be alone. The entire narrative of scripture tells us that God created us for community and in the end all of creation will finally live in fellowship with God and with each other.

Paul’s final chapter of his last letter places an exclamation point on the importance of community in every season. Scholars suggest that it wasn’t long after Paul wrote 2 Timothy that he was killed in Rome. As he writes his last published words, he indicated that it was only Luke that was with him in these last days. Paul was experiencing isolation while requesting that his community remember him and his needs in these last days.

Paul asked his young friend to do his best to come to him soon. Paul longed for more time with Timothy for fellowship. Part of the reason Paul felt so alone was that he had been abandoned by a fellow believer who had not only chosen to leave Paul but also to leave his faith because he was in love with the present world.

What does it take to abandon Jesus and choose the present world? Our instant response might be that there is no way we could ever do that after what Jesus has done for us. I am pretty sure that Demas is not the only church member who has flirted with or even chosen the world and walked away from faith.

I wonder if the pull of power had anything to do with the decision Demas made. Rome was powerful, and usually the more powerful team wins. Maybe it was the promises that came from the powerful leaders of Rome that drew Demas toward the present world and away from Christ? I suppose that turning the other cheek and loving your enemies sometimes doesn’t sound as good as getting revenge or being in control. 

Paul warned his fellow followers of Christ to beware of Alexander the coppersmith who had done great harm to Paul by deserting him when he was being tried for his beliefs. Paul didn’t ask anyone to get revenge on Alexander but simply stated that the Lord will repay him for his deeds. It scares me when I read so many social media posts by brothers and sisters of faith who suggest that political figures are justified in getting revenge. That approach speaks of the temptation of power over trusting God to deal with real or perceived injustices.

But consider Paul’s longing for the 15 names who he referenced and requested help him in his hour of need. Consider the things Paul wanted in his last days of life:

- Paul wanted Timothy to get Mark and bring him with him.
- Paul wanted his cloak for warmth as winter was coming.
- He wanted his books and parchments so that he might be encouraged and continue his writing.
- He wanted Timothy and every reader to know that even in the loneliness of prison and knowing that some had left the cause of Christ that the Lord would rescue him from every evil deed and bring him safely into his heavenly kingdom!

I suppose that sometimes we know or sense that we are in our last moments. Often we do not. But if we consider that our last days are right around the corner, what would be our requests? My guess is that, like Paul, we would long to see and have conversations with our loved ones in our families and in our family of faith. And hopefully our conversations would be about leaving things in the Lord’s hands because we finally have realized that there is little we can control. But we can make choices to love one another and to proclaim that just as God has delivered us in our previous times of need, he will ultimately deliver us into his heavenly kingdom where we will live in fellowship with our creator and with each other.

Father, we long to be united with you and your church in eternity. Until that day protect us from the evil one who tempts us with promises of the world that suggest we can be among the powerful instead of staying the course and choosing to be a servant to all. We long to be more like Jesus so that the world can see your love and your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
2 Timothy 4:9-22 ESV

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
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