Strength In Numbers

People love strength in numbers. Having many people on our side makes us feel both comfortable and secure. Yet there is no strength in numbers when it comes to our spiritual lives. Strength in spirituality comes from God, as David stated: “With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” Psalms 62.7. We should feel comfortable and secure when we turn to God for strength, and “lean not upon our own understanding” (Proverbs 3.5).

God cautions people about feeling strength in numbers alone. Although God wants us to fellowship with other Christians and lean upon them for encouragement, God does not want us to beguile ourselves into thinking we are doing something good just because many people are doing the same thing. Moses warned the Children of Israel about this when he stated, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” Exodus 23:2a. Just because a “multitude” was doing something did not necessarily make it right with God.

Jesus also warned about going simply with numbers in our spiritual lives. Jesus stated, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby” Matt. 7:13. Many people find the way to destruction, and just because many people are going down this road does not make it right. There is no strength in numbers in this situation. Actually, Jesus states, “For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it” Matthew 7:14. Jesus is warning us that most people will not dedicate their lives to him and walk down this “narrow” way. The fact that many people are doing something does not make it right.

How then do I know that I am doing what God wants me to do? Paul stated, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. Only through study of the Bible can we approve ourselves and not be ashamed of our lack of knowledge and obedience. We must take this responsibility upon ourselves and not lean upon the multitude for our guidance. Notice the attitude of the people living in Berea: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” Acts 17:11. These people daily studied the Bible to see if the preacher was telling the truth. No resting upon the multitude, no believing in strength in numbers, just good people studying the Bible for themselves.

Have you ever studied the Bible for yourself? Please join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in open discussion of God’s word. Come to your own conclusions as we carefully study the Bible with open minds and open hearts. See our listing for service times. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.