Unburdened by Pitman Vance

Author:Pitman, Vance [Pitman, Vance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493421459
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2020-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

The Blessing of “One Another”

In 1939, Harvard University commissioned a research project that became the longest study of adult human development in the his tory of research. This project continued for 75 years, studying the development of 724 men—456 from Boston’s poorest neighborhoods and 268 Harvard graduates. Interestingly, the project continued for so long that it outlived the researchers who began it!

In 2014, this incredible research project finally came to an end. In a recent TED Talk, Robert Waldinger, the current director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, shared some of the results from that study:

What are the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of information that we’ve generated on these lives? Well, the lessons aren’t about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period. . . . Relationships are messy and they’re complicated. . . . But over and over, over these 75 years, our study has shown that the people who fared the best were the people who leaned in to relationships, with family, with friends, with community. . . . The good life is built with good relationships. 2

I find it fascinating that it took Harvard University 75 years of research and millions of dollars to conclude the same central truth we’ve been exploring from God’s Word—the life of a Jesus follower is all about relationships.

But we need to address another question before we conclude this chapter: What benefits do we receive from our relationships within the church? Harvard’s research found that the good life is built through good relationships. The Bible, an infinitely higher authority than Harvard University, reveals that we’ll never experience the best life God has for us apart from relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But what makes these relationships so significant?

Let’s look again at Acts 2 to identify some compelling reasons your involvement in God’s family is so important:

Those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:41–47)

Before we go any further, notice that community is not what we do as a church; community is who we are . When the first believers came together in Jerusalem, community just happened.

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