Good morning people who stay connected and humbly welcome wisdom from others.

Proverbs 18:1-2 MEV He who separates himself seeks his own desire; he seeks and quarrels against all wisdom. A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.

We were made for community. God Himself exists as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Perfect unity, and yet different functions.

It is also true that in community we can be hurt. I have experienced this, and many of you have too.

So, what should we do?

We walk the journey of healing as required. I’ve had to do this, and I still do when necessary. As we do so, we need to guard our hearts against becoming jaded and bitter. It is easy to withdraw when we are hurt, but it will not result in long term health.

These verses also highlight that some people separate themselves from community not because they are hurt, but because they are self-willed. They want what they want, and they will not allow anyone to stand in their way. Their opinion is exalted above the wisdom that is found in godly community, and it is always to their own peril.

I have found that when people withdraw from Father’s created pattern of community, they seek and quarrel against all wisdom. They justify it with religious sounding jargon, but that is all it is – jargon. The result is inevitably deception that leads to being derailed. Others can see it, but the one who won’t listen to godly counsel powers on in their own blindness. It is very sad to see.

One more important thing that I feel Father wants to highlight in this corrective BIY is this: those who withdraw from Father’s designed community will often start to associate with other “like-minded” communities, or start a community of their own with others that are disgruntled. Again, it often sounds right to those who are hurting, but the measure should be in the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. It can also be measured by what they say about others in the body of Christ.

How is your commitment to God-honouring and people-loving community?

How is your commitment to listening to the godly wisdom of other people?