Day 27
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor Ecclesiastes 4:9
I saw a vision many years ago of two people walking, one holding the other by the elbow. It is a scene I will never forget. The meaning was clear to me and has become more important as the years pass, to truly advance (in a sustainable and consistent way) in this world, you need a community of like minded people.
This applies to everything including our faith walk. It is inevitable as humans that we will grow fatigued, discouraged, forgetting why we do what we do. In those moments, what keeps us going is the reminder that we are not alone, having someone holding our elbow saying ‘i’ve got you, i know how you feel, hold onto me, it’ll be alright’.
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10
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.
11
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I have often focused on specific verses of this Ecclesiastes Ch 4, particularly the ones above but I decided to read from the beginning of the chapter and I laughed out loud because the whole chapter talks about everything being “meaningless, a miserable business, a chasing after the wind”. It’s funny that right in the middle of a chapter where Solomon is writing about how everything is meaningless that he also writes about the importance of partnership. Could it be that without someone to lean on or call your friend that life begins to seem meaningless?
We were created to fellowship with God and each other. I strongly believe that one of the tools that God uses to refine and shape us are relationships, all the different types including friendships, mentors, mentees, family, romantic, etc. For me, they create deep opportunities for growth and healing. My community is a place where I find the voice to my fears and a safe space to share them and find the confidence to work on areas of weakness.
It’s easier for me to understand God through my relationship with others. I understand His grace when others around me show grace, I struggle with accepting and understanding His Fatherhood because my earthly father relationship was fractured. I understand love deeper now that I have a child of my own.
I am a big believer that we cannot complete our missions without other people because God is a multi-generational God (He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob afterall). His plans for us are beyond what one person or generation can accomplish so we must work together, we must collaborate, we must relate and thrive together as one.