All I Need
At first glance, it sounds right to say, “all I need is Jesus.” In some extreme circumstances, it may be required of a man to live that way. Dr. David Livingstone, for example. But God made us relational beings. It is no more wrong to say we need relationships with each other than it is to say we need to eat food. That is no slight on Christ. He is, after all, the Creator who said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” The nature of God is relational. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It shouldn’t, therefore, be surprising that we who are made in His image are made to live in a relationship with one another.
As Paul approaches the city of Rome and faces imprisonment, trial, and the possibility of death, he is met by some brothers in Christ. They heard he was coming and, rather than wait on his arrival, went out to meet him. When Paul saw them, he “thanked God and took courage.” Their fellowship lifted his spirits and renewed his courage.
We aren’t meant to take that as a statement about a lack of faith on Paul’s part. It wasn’t a confession that Jesus alone wasn’t enough. It is an acknowledgment that God made us for relationships. It is a witness to the value of the presence of other people in our lives, especially in times of trial and trouble.
Christ meets our needs, and most often he does so through people. That is why Paul thanked God when he saw his brethren. He saw them as Christ’s way of meeting his need for encouragement as he walked toward the city where his life on this earth would eventually end.
We need Christ. We need one another.
