Kindred Hearts

Ecclesiastes 4:12

“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

A threefold cord is a piece of rope made up of three separate strands. On their own, the cords are weak. They cannot withstand a lot of pressure, they do not hold things together well, and they prove to have little use, but together they are strong. Unity changes everything. Unity, coming together as a body of believers, enables us to withstand heavy weight,  and hold together through the fiercest storms. We prove to have great use because of the love of Christ that binds us together, and when we are working together with one mind, one love, one spirit, and one purpose, nothing should be able to stop us. Since being in Guatemala, I have seen this verse come to life many times. Last Saturday, during our outreach at the local market, we became swamped with a swarm of kids asking for balloon animals. There were only a handful of people in our team of twenty one who actually knew how to make the animals, but that did not stop the rest of us from trying. We found the need, worked together, encouraged one another, stood alongside each other, and fulfilled it. Together, we are empowered by the holy spirit to accomplish great and mighty things for the kingdom of the Lord. We need each other. We need people who share the same heart for the Lord, to come alongside us and strengthen us when we are weak, build us up with the word, and lovingly tell us when we are wrong. This week, Pastor Rob has been teaching about the life of David, and I can’t help but connect this verse to the brotherhood between David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 23:15-16 says, “David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose up and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.” “Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand…” Jonathan strengthened David with the presence and the promises of the Lord. Wow! I want to be this friend; the friend who is constantly pointing people to the cross, and holding them up when they are weak. We can not survive in this wicked world alone, and God knew it when he created us. So if you are wondering why you long for deep friendships, and relationships, it is because God placed that holy desire in your heart, when he breathed life into your lungs. God, I pray that I would be this friend to others, but I pray that I would desire to be knit together to you before anyone else. 

Application: I will write a letter to two of my best friends, who have been “Jonathan's” in my life. I will also be praying that God would give me opportunities to pour into others, and strengthen their arms.