"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume… No man is an island, entire of itself.” The meaning of this quotation by John Donne (1572-1631) is very clear; human beings do not thrive when isolated from others. The scriptures teach this is especially true of Believers. Over and over we are told to assemble ourselves together, to exhort and encourage each other, and to bear one another’s burdens.
One can be an individualist without being an isolationist. Elijah found this out the hard way. While on the other hand free-spirited Paul proves it to be so. Consistently we read such phrases as: Paul and Timothy: Paul and Barnabas: Paul and Titus: Paul and Sosthenes. As one writer brings out, “It is a rule in the family of God that every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.”
The wise man tells us, “Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him.”
The greatest compliment one Christian can give another is, “I need you.”
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