… 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ… 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:12, 13, 25-32 (NASB)
As I grow older, wiser and more mature in life, both temporal and spiritual, I’m amazed by God’s plan. For the sake of today’s discussion, specifically, our intricately woven interdependence. There are very few things, none actually, that I can claim sole credit for their accomplishment. Every thing that I am, have, will do or have done is the result of the tapestry of relationships God has woven me into.
From the very beginning, in the garden, God established man to be an interdependent being. First, in his relationship with God, Himself. Secondly, when He brought forth Eve, Adam’s interdependent companion. That interdependent nature has carried out ever since, despite our pressing desire for independence.
Our work ties us to one another. We work to provide for another’s wants or needs, and are rewarded for that labor. In turn, we pay another for goods or services we want or need, so on and so forth. Interdependent.
Our relationships serve to fill emotional, intellectual, recreational and physical needs. We share our time, energy, support, counsel, our lives with others, who in turn do the same for us. Interdependent.
God Himself is an interdependent being, the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of them contributing to One Another, interdependently. God the Father, from which all things originate, The Son, the mediator, whom all things most go through and The Holy Spirit, through whom all things are executed… Interdependent.
None of us, despite how vehemently we try to convince ourselves otherwise, have not and will not ever, EVER, accomplish the most minute achievement independently. Our very individual existence is the result of thousands of years of interdependence on and of God, as well as generations of other interdependents. What a beautiful tapestry He has woven. Have a blessed weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
