Not Quickly Broken
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
INSIGHT
If you have been to more than one wedding, you have probably heard today’s Scripture read, maybe while the couple braids rope. We all get the symbolism and understand the imagery of the tight knit rope, portraying a covenant relationship dependent on the third strand to hold the other two together. But, could today’s verse be about something other than marriage? Have you considered that the author, King Solomon, may have been talking about relationships in general? Could he have been talking about teamwork and doing life together with other people? Is the passage suggesting that the cord that is not quickly broken is us working together, doing life together, with other believers?
In Ecclesiastes 4:8, Solomon starts with “there was a man all alone.” The verse continues to say that he was working alone, conflicted about why he tried so hard when it benefited no one but himself. Solomon calls working in isolation a meaningless and miserable business. He goes on to explain why two are better than one.
Think about the things you do in your everyday life. Go to work or class. Make a Target run. Eat a meal. Enjoy a walk on the beach. How much richer are those experiences when you are not alone? What about the big celebrations in your life? A new job? A new house? A new boat? A new haircut? A new baby? We want to jump on the phone and let our friends know the good news because we know they will celebrate with us.
In His detailed design, God created our brains to receive good news from a friend and release chemicals to literally make us happy. Our brain reacts to love, friendship, trust, and social bonds by releasing oxytocin (you’ve heard of that one, right?) You will actually be more content and happy by doing life together with other people. The feeling you receive from that interaction, your body wants more of, so you build a relationship over these deeper and more consistent exchanges of love, friendship and trust. God created us to desire relationships. Isn’t that what He desires with us? We were made in His image and He yearns for connection with us. He designed us to long for relationship.
What about when life isn’t happy and circumstances are hard? Solomon suggests that we are all going to fall, so it’s important to have someone by our side. If we fall down alone, we have no one to pick us up. What about the things that you tell yourself you can handle on your own because you don't want to be a burden? Sitting at the doctor waiting for results from a test. Checking a pregnancy test for the 30th time. Sitting in a chemo appointment. Receiving a phone call that someone is not coming home. We were not created to walk through life alone.
Yes, God promises to be our comforter, our refuge, our support. What if God can also be our comforter, refuge and support through another person? Consider that He desires and designed us for relationships. The expression of God’s love can look like a friend going to an appointment with us or a friend being the person we call immediately after receiving difficult news. It can look like a meal train or someone sitting quietly on the couch next to you just so you’re not alone. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
The enemy thrives when we remain in isolation. When we think we don’t need anyone and are better off alone. When we think we are the only one who struggles. Solomon says “pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” God created us for communion with Him and for community with others so we don’t have to fight, suffer, and celebrate alone. We are designed to do life with God together for the world.
REFLECTION
Do you have people that will not only celebrate with you, but walk with you through the hard circumstances? How do these people walk with God as well as walk alongside you?
What is your contribution to your community? How is God using you to love the people within your reach?
If you feel like you are in isolation and don’t have a community to walk with you, how can you step out of that place? Consider joining a team to serve alongside, join a group, or reach out to old friends.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for desiring a relationship with me. Help me to crave time with You to deepen my relationship with You. Help me to be the friend to others that You have been to me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Ashley Sarvis, Port City’s Worship Service Programming Coordinator, wrote today’s devotional.