Friday, February 14, 2014

Who's the Third?

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.  Ecclesiastes 4

Happy Valentine’s Day!  It’s a day that my husband and I haven’t celebrated in the traditional sense for years.  We just don’t get into it.  We don’t buy chocolates or gifts for each other, and we avoid restaurants like the plague today.  Our plan for tonight?  Grabbing a pizza, playing with our toddler, and then watching a TV show after he goes to bed.  And I’m thrilled.

I have plenty of single friends who loathe this day.  They bemoan that they are alone and don’t have anyone to celebrate the day with.  Are we ever truly alone?  We are all brothers and sisters through Christ!  No one is ever alone. 

Look at that last verse.  One may be overpowered.  Absolutely true.  Many of us are weak to temptation when it approaches us when we are “alone” and absent from other believers.  Two can defend themselves.  Again, absolutely true.  Having an accountability partner for whatever your sin is can help you to battle that sin.  A partner helps you to shoulder the burden.  I hate doing things alone, so I make sure, if I’m worried about something, I grab a partner to help me.  Two are much better than one when facing difficult situations.  I’m not talking romantic partners here.  I mentor a group of college women with another woman.  We lean on each other often when we face difficult situations with them.  It is so beneficial to have someone who has the same goals and values as you do.  She will see things and offer different perspectives on the problems than I see, and we can combine those to help the group come to positive solutions.


So what about the last line of the verse, how did we get to three?  Everything up until now in the chapter had been talking about being alone (one) and then having a partner (two).  The third cord is Christ.  Where two or more are gathered, he is there.  If you and your partner acknowledge Christ in your lives and how he works when you face those difficult situations, you will not be broken.

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