Isolation, either physically or emotionally, is not the way

Proverbs 18:1

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that men’s hearts are deceitful, and Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to lean upon our own understanding. Proverbs 15:22 tells us the importance of wise counsel. In the book of Job, they each felt themselves wise until the Lord asks what do they know of the ways of God.

Yes, seeking God involves our studying and rightly dividing the Word of God, but we are not to be monks hidden away, we are to be shining lights on a hill, we are supposed to be loving and serving others. If we isolate ourselves, it may be because we are more interested in believing that we have it all figured out instead of seeking to learn and share and sharpen with others.

Ours is not a calling to knowledge alone, which puffs up, but it is a calling to unity with the body of Christ. Dissention and division are the enemies of unity and love. So we should seek wise counsel, and weigh one another’s words alongside our own opinions on scales that are not biased, but that are seeking truth. Anything less is vanity.

If we find ourselves isolated from others in the body of Christ, we must ask ourselves, are we seeking God’s will, or are we focused on self. We must ask ourselves, are we intent on discovering and applying the Word of God in our lives, or are we focused on defending what we think is right. Are we serving and loving our brothers, or acting as an accuser of the brethren who is intent upon His own foolish purposes? Are we seeking unity or are we intent upon quarrelling?

James 1:19

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Titus 3:9-11

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.