As we in the U.S. celebrate the 4th of July, aka Independence Day, I’m thinking it’s also time to acknowledge and openly declare our inter-dependence! Really, there’s no shame in that, and actually it makes good sense.

Interdependence happens and helps at every level. Individuals benefit from the strengths and abilities of other individuals to make up for their own weaker areas. That’s why corporations have teams, and those that deliver the best outcomes are those where team members recognize and celebrate their interdependence on each other.

It’s also why the Lord gives us families at birth, and the best families consist of members who develop healthy interdependence (not co-dependence or independence). For example, kids are given chores as soon as they’re able, while moms and dads split up responsibilities according to their abilities and capacity. Even better when they can work together and enjoy each other’s company.

Groups do best in relationships of interdependence with other groups. We can see this in churches cooperating together to host a major event in their town, pray and work together to meet the needs of their community, etc. Or teams in an organization or company that each contribute their part for the greater good of the final product and/or service (for ex., design, tech, finance, marketing, etc.).

Nations also survive and thrive through interdependence. Since sin entered our world, some nations have had to band together to fight off aggression by other nations. More recently, in today’s global economy, entire nations have become more aware of our interdependence on each other for goods and services. They figure those who trade together get paid together (i.e., everyone benefits).

The Lord designed us to achieve great things and feel good about it. But He didn’t design us for independence from Him and/or others. When He forbade Adam and Eve from partaking of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, it wasn’t to spoil their fun. It was to keep them from living life apart from Him.

They ate the forbidden fruit in order to “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Satan’s devious marketing strategy) (Gen. 3:5) In other words, they wouldn’t need God, or anyone else, to accomplish whatever they wanted to do. They could and wanted to be independent.

So what’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t we “pull our weight”, “stand up on our own two feet”, and not think and act like the “world owes us a living”? Yes. We need to accept responsibility and do whatever we can to contribute to society. But if everyone were totally independent and no one needed each other for anything, who would there be to contribute to? We’d all be a bunch of lonely automatons, a world unto ourselves, with no give, take, or relationship. And no appreciation, since there’d be no one or nothing to appreciate outside of ourselves. What a depressing thought!

This doesn’t mean we should let the wrong people or groups control us. Former colonies have become independent for good reason. But an individual or country escaping abusive control is different from becoming totally self-sufficient. Or, as John Donne wrote, “No man [person] is an island”.

We all need a certain degree of independence. But independence was never meant to be our final goal or an end in itself. We need to view and recognize independence as a stepping stone/means to interdependence. For example:

~The U.S. had to become independent from Britain in order to help each other in WWI and WWII, as well as in many other areas.

~Children grow up and become independent from their parents in many ways. But parents can still offer a lot of wisdom and assistance to their children (such as watching the grandkids). And adult children in turn help their parents (such as help with the latest tech stuff).

That’s also why Eccles. 4:9-10 tells us, “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.”  It’s also why we have sayings like “Many hands make light work.”

We also have Jesus Himself to partner with us, since a lot of life requires more than we can handle on our own, or even with other people who also have limited ability. He told us “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Mat. 11:28-29) Meaning, team up with Him— He’ll shoulder the lion’s share of the load. This sure beats knocking ourselves out for nothing.

And yet amazingly, Jesus/the Lord has chosen to depend on us to reach others. Sure, He could do it all by Himself if He wanted to. But He has given us the high calling and assignment of spreading His love and truth to those who don’t know about Him—Who He is, what He’s done, and what He’ll do for those in relationship with Him. For example:

“’When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Mat. 9:36-38)

He continues to ask those of us who follow Him to do the same. He even asked the disciples to ask the Lord for Him! Why would the Lord Himself, God Incarnate, ask people to ask for Him? Couldn’t He just talk to Himself and decide for Himself what to do? Why would He need us to ask? Moreover, with total power and sovereignty, why would He need our help or involvement? Because He preferred relationship-building interdependence to “I’ll get the job done all by myself”. So He demonstrated it.

Again, later, as Jesus took His followers into the Garden of Gethsemane, feeling the emotional and spiritual weight of the Cross He was about to bear, He asked those closest to Him to pray for Him. Did He really need that? In one way, no, but in another, yes. As the One who’d chosen to become a man, He’d chosen interdependence along with personhood. In His infinite wisdom, He knew and demonstrated the value of interdependence over self-sufficient independence.

A true leader recognizes the value of the team. He/she also draws it out publicly so all members can appreciate what each one contributes. Everyone on that team, in turn, recognizes the value of each other, including the leader. This synergistic interdependence increases the desired impact.

So, as we think about the Declaration of Independence, let’s keep this as our total, declared, goal:

  1. Declare our own independence/freedom from slavery to sin, through Jesus, who set us free. (Gal. 5:1)
  2. Declare our own dependence on the Lord for strength and wisdom to resist and defeat the enemy, grow in maturity, and accomplish what we need to. (Phil. 1:6; 2:13)
  3. Declare our interdependence on each other, as well as the Lord, for the best possible outcome in our lives, our communities, and the world. (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:7, 12-14)