The Power of Community
The lone gazelle always gets eaten by the lion.
If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary about the African plains, you know how it goes. When one young gazelle or antelope wanders off from the pack, you know it's in trouble.
1 Peter 5:8 warns us in stark and clear language:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In the last few years, I’ve personally learned what I’ve witnessed in the lives of leaders and men around the world: isolation is one of the primary strategies of the enemy to take people down.
When you are isolated, you lack.
You lack relationships. You lack support.
You lack outside perspective. You lack resources.
You lack accountability. You lack strength.
The writer of Ecclesiastes paints this picture beautifully:
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
— Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
There’s a lot of pride and ego today wrapped up in the image of the “self-made man,” the contrarian, the success story who “made it.” Our current culture of social media gurus, influencers, and personal brands only adds fuel to the fire. We’re constantly bombarded with curated highlight reels marketing to our insecurities and aspirations.
But actually talk to anyone who has “made it,” and they’ll tell you:
They got there because of their team, their network, and the people in their corner.
Since the COVID pandemic of 2020, loneliness, social isolation, and mental health disorders have skyrocketed. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health crisis, comparing its health risks to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Conversely, Scripture, science, research, and real success stories all point to a simple truth:
We were created for relationship.
From the very beginning, God said it was not good for man to be alone. And throughout the Bible, we see principle after principle, exhortation after exhortation, affirming the necessity of deep, meaningful connections with others.
And yet, I consistently see two groups struggle most with isolation:
Men, and
Leaders—business leaders and ministry leaders alike.
Over and over, I encounter men and leaders who don’t have real friends, authentic relationships, or meaningful accountability. Just the constant mask of performance, results, and having all the answers.
Key Question:
If meaningful relationships are essential for everyday people to thrive, how much more are they absolutely necessary for those carrying the weight and responsibility of leadership?
To be fair, I don’t think it’s just pride. I think most of us were never shown how. It’s rarely been modeled well. It’s also scary. Relationships invite transparency, vulnerability, and accountability.
It feels safer to stay hidden—keeping up the show that you’ve got it all together.
And for too long, we’ve taken the bait: that getting results, even at the expense of our souls, is somehow worth it.
As you reflect on the role of community in your life, meditate on these Scriptures:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
— Proverbs 27:17
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
— Proverbs 13:20
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
— Proverbs 11:14Without trusted people who can speak truth to you—even when it’s uncomfortable—you will never become all God has called you to be.
And one of my favorites…
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together... but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
— Hebrews 10:24–25
Bottom line:
Living and leading in isolation makes you more prone to:
Physical and mental health issues
Shorter lifespan
Temptation, addiction, and sin
Leadership failure
Believing the lies of your own ego and pride
But real community?
It challenges us.
It grows us.
It brings out the best in us.
People influence us. Wisdom and foolishness are both contagious.
Who you surround yourself with will either build you up or break you down.
Godly people give you strength, strategy, perspective, support—and they help you stay true to who God has called you to be.
Key Takeaway:
“The make-or-break skill in life and leadership is the wisdom to build, develop, and maintain the right relationships.”
Take Action
1) Assess Your Relational Circles
Do you have life-giving, wise, and godly people in your life?
How many actual friends do you have? Not just guys you get drunk with on the golf course—
but who could you call at 3 a.m. in an emergency?Who celebrates your wins without insecurity or competition?
Who currently has too much access—and who doesn’t have enough?
2) Get Intentional
How many of your relationships are driven by agenda or obligation?
What kind of people do you truly want in your life?
What kind of friend are you committed to being?
What values are you looking for in your relationships?
Are you actively investing in relationships that sharpen, challenge, and build toward good works?
3) Create Your Personal “Board of Directors”
Every great company has one—do you?
The paralytic in Mark 2 had friends who carried him to Jesus. They were invested in his breakthrough.
Do you have men like that in your life?
Who do you trust to speak the truth in love—even when it’s hard to hear?
Who do you respect enough to allow them access to your blind spots?
If no one comes to mind, that’s not a judgment—it’s a red flag. And it needs to change.