I’m a huge fan of those nature shows you occasionally see on “Discovery Channel” or “National Geographic”. I’m always filled with awe as I see, on display, the beauty, and creativity of God. Recently, I was watching a wildlife documentary on the Lion. The lion is an apex predator, which means it hunts everything, and nothing hunts it…..unless it’s all alone. This particular episode showed a massive lion, by itself, all alone until the hyenas moved in. In an instant, the King of the Jungle was vulnerable. A clan of 20 hyenas surrounded and assaulted the isolated lion. Dramatic music plays as the lion grows tired, and it looks as if all is lost. When suddenly, with one last roar for help, another male lion comes running to his side. The tables had turned, and the hyenas scattered. Even the King of the jungle can’t walk alone, and neither can you. We read the wisdom of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes:
“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! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Loneliness and feelings of isolation have skyrocketed in our world. God designed us to walk in Christian community with others. Christian community will increase your:
- PRODUCTION: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” Notice the simple math, you divide your toil in half and multiply your production by 2!
- PROTECTION: “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!” There really is safety in numbers. It’s why Jesus sent His disciples out in 2’s. Who do you need to reach out to and ‘lift up’ today?
- PASSION: “Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?” We all need ‘spiritual spotters’ when we are stuck in life. Fill your life with passionate followers of Christ.
- POWER: “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” An 80-year Harvard study tracked the lives of 268 men. After the study, they determined the single most important thing in one’s life to determine happiness, meaning, health, etc. Can be boiled down to one thing….RELATIONSHIPS!