The Importance Of Christian Fellowship

June 30, 2023
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

I have been reflecting on the importance of fellowship and connection with other Christians. In today’s blog post, we will consider what the Scripture has to say about this. Don’t underestimate the power of a good friend!

“A friend is a friend at all times, and a brother is born for the time of adversity.”-Proverbs 17:17

It is believed that King Solomon, known for his gift of wisdom, is the author of the book of Proverbs. He tells us that a brother is born for the time of adversity, which may seem obvious at first, but have you ever stopped to consider the depth of what that means?

In order for one friend to be there for the other in difficult times, they must each do their part. The one experiencing hardship must be willing to reach out and ask for help. It can be hard to ask for the assistance of others, and the enemy of our souls counts on that resistance to keep us alone and struggling. If someone does reach out, it can require sacrifice on the part of the other. It is not always convenient or easy to help.

Take these wise words and allow them to sink in. “A brother is born for the time of adversity.” The friendships that you have are not just for fun and excitement. They are meant to be life-giving, mutually beneficial, and sacrificial. We are called to love others as Jesus has loved us—and that is not always easy.

“Two are better than one: They get a good wage for their toil. If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help.”

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

The above passage is so powerful to me because it points out that it is normal to fall and need help. So often I see the expectation for people to be perfect. Sometimes this expectation comes from our surroundings, but often it comes from within. Many of us are trying hard for something that isn’t realistic or even possible. I appreciate that this passage reveals that we will all fall. Whether you want a friend or not, there will be times in your life when you need one. This invites us to accept the truth that we were not created to be alone.

It is normal for each of us to experience highs and lows at various points in our lives. Let’s say you are in a period of your life where things are going well. You feel strengthened in your relationship with God, you feel that you have a good handle on your responsibilities, you are in good health, and are generally at peace. If your friend is struggling spiritually, emotionally, or otherwise, it is your duty as a friend to be there for them.

“Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”-Matthew 18:19-20

When I was little, my father used to quote this passage when we prayed as a family. The image I have always had in my head when hearing this is of close family or friends bowing their heads together, with Jesus in the middle, lifting each other’s intentions up to God the Father. We can and should pray for ourselves and for the things we want. We can and should ask our friends to lift us up in prayer as well.

Jesus calls us to come together in prayer. After a recent conversation with a friend, I also envision our Guardian Angels surrounding us as we pray. Imagine how the enemy must feel when trying to turn us away from God, only to see us doubling down on our efforts and bringing more soldiers into the fight! We know that the devil wants us to feel isolated. When we show up with strength in numbers, his power is weakened considerably. Praise God!

“Do not be led astray: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”

-1 Corinthians 15:33

Another job of a friend is to be good company. I don’t mean “good” in terms of entertainment, but “good” as someone who pursues what is true, good, and beautiful. Our friends, especially the ones who we look up to, can have a great influence over us. We must be careful then, to choose those who have our best interests in mind and at heart.

Sometimes the words we want to hear are not the ones we need to hear. A friend who desires our souls to be in union with Christ often has the courage to say something that may make us feel unpleasant, because we are faced with the ugliness of our sins. Though difficult to hear, there is an opportunity to allow their words to touch our hearts and inspire us to draw even closer to God and His Church and the freedom Jesus died to give us.

A Personal Message

Before ending today’s blog post, I want to let you know that this will be my last time addressing you. Thank you for reading these posts and writing to me! I have learned along with you and feel closer to God and our Faith. It has been an absolute pleasure writing for and connecting with you. You have all been in my prayers, and I will continue to hold you in my heart and lift you up to God. May you each be richly blessed! God’s peace be with you.

Before You Go

Do you have friends in your life who help you to feel more connected to God?

Have you taken the time recently to consider what type of friend you are with respect to your Faith?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

I would LOVE to hear from you. Send me an email to Catholic-Living@Autom.com Be sure to follow and subscribe to the links below for more tips and information.