WHAT A FELLOWSHIP

The book of Genesis makes it clear that fellowship was essential in the relationship that God had with Adam and Eve. The scripture says that when God came into the Garden to fellowship with Adam and Eve, they had hidden themselves among the trees. It is clear in the scriptures that isolation is dangerous in the lives of people, and in most cases produces negative results. When Cain murdered Abel he was sentenced to being isolated with a mark on his forehead and lived as a vagabond. The people who attempted to build the tower of Babel were powerful together but once they were separated by their language, they were unable to complete the project.

It is clear throughout scripture, especially in the ministry of Jesus, that fellowship was one of the greatest ways that Jesus connected with people and it was a way to introduce them to the Father. Matthew 9:10-13 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

In a time when modern methods of social media are main ways that people communicate, the importance of fellowship has been diminished. Attitudes exist in many people that would undermine the importance of fellowship when it comes to building a relationship with God. Throughout the New Testament, fellowship is a strong underlying theme in terms of bringing people into a greater relationship with God. Notice the emphasis placed on the importance of the response of people to a dinner invitation and the reaction of the host when people made somewhat reasonable excuses for why they would not attend - Luke 14:16-24. Jesus enters the house where Mary and Martha are together in order to spend time with them.

It was important for Jesus to have somewhere He could go to have fellowship outside of his hectic ministry schedule. Mary understood the necessity to spend quality time in fellowship with Jesus, while Mary thought it was important to stay busy getting things done. Martha’s complaint serves as another opportunity for Jesus to remind Martha, along with ourselves, that we should never underestimate the importance of fellowship.