No Man is an Island

“For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and
none of us dies for ourselves alone.” (Romans 14:7)

Much of the Christian life is centered in our relationship with God and Christ, as that is the cornerstone of our salvation that we accept Christ into our hearts. We’re not saved by belief in another human or their works (or our own, for that matter!). I see a twofold concept at work here. We don’t live for ourselves alone in the sense that we have to live for God and his purposes, but at the same time we need to realize that from beginning to end our life is connected to other lives. It the “no man is an island” concept when it comes to others.

When we see our lives as living for God, and not for ourselves it’s the concept that we are living for Someone outside of our self. That was not the view of this verse that spoke to me this morning. I saw the side of this verse that God wants us to be aware of others around us, and that we are living for more than ourselves. When it comes to being aware of the lives around us that we are connected to Christians should be grace oriented. We need to live with the understanding that what we have, we have from the Lord. I know that it is very easy for judgmental thoughts to come into my mind easily when I look at others around me. That is the part of our human nature and thought life we need to put to death daily. it is so easy to think the very best about ourselves, and at the same time see ulterior motives in all those around us, rather than thinking the best of them first. But striving towards that should be our goal.

Believe the best, and try to inspire those around us to be the best they can be.

Those around us may be in need of encouragement, inspiration or a kind word.

Displaying the grace of God to another may be just what their soul is thirsting for.