The Real Meaning Of Sharing

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15

Just before speed skater Dan Jansen was to race at the 1988 Winter Olympics, he received word his sister had succumbed to her yearlong battle with leukemia. He fell in that race and again in his second race four days later. Returning home, one of many letters of consolation he received was from a thirty-year-old medal winner in the Special Olympics, who wrote, “I want to share one of my gold medals with you because I don’t like to see you not get one. Try again in four more years.”

For Dan Jansen, receiving that medal from a fellow athlete must have come close to winning one of his own. That’s an example of the koinonia—the oneness, the unity—that athletes share.

Christians are to share that same kind of oneness, which is the true meaning of koinonia, or what we call “fellowship.” If a fellow Christian is suffering, then the rest of the church suffers. If we are rejoicing, then we’re blessed when other believers rejoice with us. Because we are all part of one body, the experiences of one member of the body—whether joy or sorrow—are experienced by all.

God never intended for any of His children to laugh or cry alone.