David Swift

Ecclesiastes 4:9-16
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.

Reflection:
The Rembrandts might best be known for their song “I’ll Be There For You” as the theme for the hit television show FRIENDS. The song embodies the heart of the show which was to have someone who would stand with you in all the highs and lows that life presents. Throughout its ten seasons, we watched the characters grow from just being close acquaintances to a family in their own right. Who in your life began as a chance encounter due to common circumstances, ended up being someone that you can call family? For some of us it might be a childhood friend you met on the school bus or lived down the street from, it might be someone that lived in your dorm at college or even as a coworker in the cube down the hall. In our many seasons of life, some of these friendships wax and wane, but the true bonds are never broken.

I am always amazed when I get a chance to catch up with a friend who I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while, that no matter the time between visits, we fall right back into step. Recently, that seems to be more the norm because of what our world has experienced; however, when given the chance to connect the distance seems to fade. Whether it be sharing what is currently on our minds, or reminiscing on past misadventures, the ability to support each other is necessary to navigate the road of life.

Ecclesiastes 4 presents us with this wisdom that two is better than one and it reaffirms the scripture in Genesis 2:18 when “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” While these verses are normally applied in a marital sense, the truth is that God’s plan for us was not to be a hermit but to have fellowship with others.  Think about the highs and lows in your past and those that were huddled around you.  Hopefully, these individuals made you stronger, more accountable, and more productive and shared with you the love that and hope that Christ promises for us in the future.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for those that have been with us through the ups and downs of everyday life. We ask that you continue to bless these relationships and breathe your Holy Spirit into strengthening our bonds for whatever may come.