January 31
Ecclesiastes 4.9-12
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labour:
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.
One of the most basic needs of people is relationship. Some might like to keep relationships to a few and not like the large gatherings. Others might like larger gatherings and keeping relationships broad. God said it at the beginning, it is not good for man to be alone.
The writer of Ecclesiastes is not writing a treatise on why people should be married, although that is not excluded here. It is a statement that we need to have people around us in relationship. Friends and family. People with whom we work. People who share life with us in a variety of ways.
As things change over the years we find that it will change in many ways who those people are. Some who are friends for life. Still sending us encouragements from far away after many years. Some stay physically with us for our whole lives. Others come for a time and then go. Or we are the ones who move to new places. Each of them holding us in caring and sharing of faith.
Life is better, and the hard times are manageable, when we have others with us to walk with us. For our own good we stay in relationships so that we have people to lean on. For the good of others we stay in relationships so that we can be leaned upon. For the good of all, we hold on together for strength, standing in faith for all of life.
Song – Psalm 34
Prayer
O God of all creation, you alone are God. And you alone can satisfy our longing for a support that earth cannot give and that heaven will not take away. Help us, in recognition of our common dependence on you, to acknowledge our need of one another. Amen.
Bonus Song – Lean On Me