Tag: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Week 13–Day 1–Together We Are Better
Scripture reading for March 23: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. . . .And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The ancient wisdom of King Solomon, the wisest man to have lived other than Jesus Christ, promotes the benefits of teamwork. There is synergy when two people work together in unity or a team of people put their various talents to work. Solomon points out that they will have a good reward for working together.
Another benefit is to have help when trouble comes in the completion of a job. If one person falls down or is injured, the other can help him get back up and recover. Also, if there was an attack from another person, the helper would add strength and overcoming ability enabling the person to escape the attack. Solomon also observed that a ‘three-stranded cord” was not easily broken. Many commentators suggest that this is the two person team trusting the Lord as their third Person, giving them the edge.
In our work as first responders, two are better than one. We often go in pairs to bring the help needed. I have responded to two calls in the last day where I went to assist the EMT’s with a person needing transport. Two EMT’s always go out together on the calls, but many times, an extra pair of hands or two more helpers make the job easier. In the last case, an elderly lady needed help getting out of her bedroom and down some steep and narrow stairs. We used the transport chair, but the battery was not working and we had to carry her. It was much easier with four of us lifting and carrying her and the chair.
Sometimes there are situations where people are angry or resistant to those seeking to help. It is a blessing to have extra helpers who are able to stay calm and work with those distracting from the mission. Having our Lord with us is always welcomed, as He can guide and bring answers to difficult situations.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for team members who work together to help those who are hurting. Thank You for Your presence with us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help our teams. Use me to work with others in unity. Amen.
Learn to depend on the Lord totally!
Scripture reading for February 17th: Mark 6
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Mark 6: 7-11 “Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave the authority over evil spirits. These were His instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff–no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
Jesus sent His original twelve disciples out in pairs on a mission to preach the message of repentance and to confront the domain of Satan. They were not to take anything with them to sustain themselves–except one set of clothes, sandals and a walking stick. They were not to take bread to eat or money to buy anything or a bedroll to sleep on. They must seek out a home in each town they visited where someone would welcome them and then accept their hospitality for food and shelter. If no one would welcome them, then they were to shake the dust from their sandals as a witness against that town and move on to the next place of ministry.
Jesus kept it very simple! These instructions required great humility, cooperation, and no fear of man’s rejection. They had to walk by faith and follow instructions in each village. They must work together. The results were totally up to God and the people’s heart condition to accept or reject them and their message.
Observations for over-comers: Disciples must learn to depend totally on the Lord to guide them and supply their needs. Working in pairs, they learned to help each other stay focused. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return on their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)