美國阿拉斯加州惠蒂爾鎮只有三百位居民，他們幾乎都住在同一棟公寓大樓，因此惠蒂爾鎮被稱作「同一屋簷下的小鎮」。艾敏曾經是惠蒂爾鎮的居民，她說：「我不需要走出大樓，雜貨店、公證處、學校和郵局就在一樓，只要搭乘電梯就到了！」

艾敏說：「由於那裡的生活非常舒適，所以我時常想獨來獨往，覺得自己不需要任何人。但那裡的居民非常熱情，他們會互相照顧。後來我瞭解他們需要我，而我也需要他們。」

就像艾敏一樣，我們有時會想要獨來獨往，避開群體，這樣看似壓力較小！但聖經教導，基督徒在獨處或與其他信徒來往團契，兩者應保持適當的平衡。使徒保羅將基督的眾信徒比作人的身體，正如身體的每個部分都有獨特的功能一樣，每個基督徒都有獨特的角色（羅馬書12章4節）。身體的一個部分無法單獨存在，同樣地，一個基督徒也無法單獨過信仰生活（5節）。在群體中，我們才能發揮個人的恩賜（6-8節；彼得前書4章10節），生命成長更像耶穌（羅馬書12章9-21節）。

我們需要彼此，在基督裡彼此聯結（5節）。在耶穌的幫助下，當我們「互相照顧」，我們能與祂建立更親密的關係，並向人展現基督的愛。

Most of the three hundred residents of Whittier, Alaska, live in one big apartment complex, and that’s why Whittier is called a “town under one roof.” Amie, a former resident, says, “I didn’t have to step outside the building─the grocery store, notary public, school, and post office were on our ground floor, just an elevator ride away!”

“Because life there was so comfortable, I often wanted to keep to myself, thinking I didn’t need anyone,” Amie shares. “But the residents are so warm. They look out for each other. I learned that they need me, and I need them.”

Like Amie, we may at times want to keep to ourselves and avoid community. The latter seems less stressful! But Scripture says that a believer in Jesus should have a healthy balance of solitude and fellowship with other believers. The apostle Paul likens the body of believers to the human body. Just as each body part has a distinct function, every believer has a distinct role (Romans 12:4). Just as a body part can’t exist alone, a believer can’t live the life of faith in isolation (v. 5). It’s in the midst of community that we use our gifts (vv. 6-8; 1 Peter 4:10) and grow to be like Jesus (Romans 12:9-21).

We need one another; our togetherness is in Christ (v. 5). With His help, as we “look out for each other,” we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him and show others His love.