No Man is an Island

Mike Hosey, an Elder

In 1624, John Donne, the cleric and poet, published in one of his devotional writings the solid truth that “no man is an island.” In that writing, he was talking about death, and arguing that all humanity is connected, and that the loss of one is a loss to all.  We’ve taken his statement somewhat out of its context and popularized it to make another solid truth. Today, we take his statement to mean that no man can live apart from others. In other words, a man or woman can’t really survive without the help of other men and women. 

Both truths have profound meaning. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son . . . (John 3:16).  God’s love for the world of men was so great that He sent His son in order that none would die. He did not want them to be an island apart from his life giving presence. In fact, He did not want even a single one to perish (2 Peter 3:9). The idea of the loss of even one is so terrible that God tried to rescue that one by sending the only righteous man who ever lived to a criminal’s cross. 

This is our ultimate example.  In all likelihood, you have not had an opportunity to imitate that example. And probably, no one but Jesus has ever lived it out it for you. On the other hand, it is very likely that someone has helped you in your life. Someone has held your hand, moved you down a path, or picked you up when you fell down. Most importantly, if you are a true follower of Jesus, then someone helped you by telling you about Him. And it’s likely that someone is helping you to understand Him, or to know Him even better, at this very moment.  You are not an island, and you never have been. 

And neither is anyone around you.  This is something Paul understood. He knew that no one was going to hear the gospel unless someone told them. He knew that if lost men were to hear the gospel, then they must not be allowed to be islands. Paul instructs us in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 that we are to make ourselves all things to all people so that we may bring them the blessings of the gospel.

Think about a time when someone helped you to understand something! Now go do the same for someone else, and help them to know the greatest friend they could ever have. Don’t let anyone think they are an island!