I Don’t Need Nothin, Except…
Posted on December 28, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” — Philippians 4:11
I’m sure all of my English major readers are cringing at the title of this one, the ever popular double negative. That’s worse than the run-on-sentence. The truth is we don’t need nothing, we need each other. As another Christmas passes and we have that one gift that we don’t know how we lived this long without, let’s remember, we lived this long without.
In reading into what the Apostle Paul is writing to the Philippians I sense a need, even though he says “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” he also reveals his thankfulness for fellowship. Right after his famous quote in vs, 13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”, he goes on to say “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.”
“I don’t need nothing” means I need something, I need you and you need me. Fellowship and belonging are two of the keys to freedom in Christ. This is why the holidays are the hardest times of the year for some. They experience loneliness, missing the one thing that God uses to draw us to Himself. Our fellowship with God is one of the most important things in life, next is our fellowship with one another. As a matter of fact, the only way God allows the church to discipline us is to break fellowship in order to bring us to repentance and to restore fellowship. Sometimes you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
In my experience, I have come to believe that when a close brother in the Lord drops off the radar, it’s only a matter of time before he will replace healthy fellowship with sinful behavior. Of course the status of our fellowship has to be subject to the things of the Lord, 1st John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Walking in the Light, the picture of a well-oiled machine running on all cylinders, a healthy body functioning and producing a harvest. Men coming together for good works and a good testimony.
If you look back on last year and see that fellowship wasn’t what it should have been, I would encourage you to engage in Christ centered relationships, it’s not always easy and there are times when we get on each other’s nerves, but iron sharpens iron. Don’t fall for the idea that you don’t need it, because believe me – “You don’t need nothing.” Amen!
Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.
The Daily Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 7-8| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.” – Andrew Murray
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30
Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
