Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up…Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Though I noticed in the Bible that the Lord never sent any of the disciples out alone, He always sent them out in groups of at least two. Even after Jesus was taken up from the earth, we read in the Book of Acts that the apostles went out in twos; Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, Peter and John, Priscilla and Aquila, etc. Why was it so important for the apostles to be paired up? As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4, it was because they would have a good return for their work. And as we all know, work gets done a lot faster and perhaps more efficiently when more than one person works on it.
In Acts 14:19, we read that after preaching and performing miracles in Lystra, Paul was stoned and dragged outside of the city, and left for death. Barnabas was with him, so perhaps he ran and got help because we read in verse 20 that, But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. When Paul was fell down, his friends were there to help him up. Do you have these types of friends?
Pause for a second and think about the people that are walking through life with you. Are you challenged to be a better person because of their impact on your life? Can you count on them to pick you up if you were to fall down, either physically or spiritually? Do you have a better return for your work because of their ‘partnership’ in your life and your different ministries?
If you answered no to any of the questions in the previous paragraph, then might I suggest that you prayerfully consider connecting with someone else that can fulfill that role? If the person that you had in mind was a spouse or love interest, I strongly recommend that you find another person of your gender that is perhaps more relatable. The Lord did not create us to go through life alone. After He created Adam, we read in Genesis 2:18 that the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Even Christ, when sending out His disciples in Mark 6:7, “Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.”
Who is walking this Christian walk with you? Who are you walking with? If you fell, would you have someone there to help you up? Do you have someone to do battle with so that you are not overpowered? If you don’t, please prayerfully consider connecting with at least one person. Many churches have small groups that you can get plugged into, and perhaps you can make connections that way. If even Jesus did not walk alone, we would be wise to connect with at least one other person to 'walk' with.
Grace and peace be with you.
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