“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for 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!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
verses are in the middle of the list of evils we have been looking at. How do we deal with an unfair world? Solomon gives advice on how to live in our evil world. We need friends and other people.
Solomon emphasizes three reasons for friends and family. First, if one falls down, the other can help him up. We can assist one another in need.
one can help keep another warm. There was a variety of areas where shepherds were keeping their sheep. At night they would sleep in a huddle or close together for added warmth or for defense and safety.
The third example is the importance of others for safety. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. The more that are united in efforts the stronger the alliance. Man's most important relationships, next to God, are family, society, and church.
church is a spiritual family with various gifts, needs for fellowship, for balance in teaching and training in righteousness, in supporting God's work financially, and for praise and worship.
Without friendship one is discontent, and without God we all stand discontent and life loses its meaningfulness.
has done something about it. He sent His Son to be our savior. The evil around us is only for a time. As mentioned, this passage was introduced by saying God does have all things in His hands. There is a time when all evil will be done away with. There is a judgment. It will come to you and me. Things are not the way God designed them. There was grace given. Jesus Christ came to take the punishment for our sin and our evil so that we may trust Him, repent from our sin and ask Him to save us from all its effects. For all outside of Jesus Christ, there is the payment of eternal death. For those saved by the blood of Jesus Christ there is eternal life.
God gave His son, Jesus, to correct the wrongs and make them right. He came to bring to us resurrection so that all will be justified.
Application: Reflect today on the fact that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. Practice His presence throughout the day in all you do.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You for what You suffered so we might be approved unto God. You said, “ I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are our forever friend and Savior.
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