Strong part 5
I really like the verse in Ecclesiastes that I quoted early in this Rant series. So I'm going to quote it again to close this bad boy down. Ecclesiastes 4:12, "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Kind of another way of saying, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18). Its not good for us to be alone. By ourselves we can easily be prevailed against. Sneak attack from behind. We're done for. But two shall withstand him, because then we can get each others' backs. We can cover each others' blindspots. "I didn't see that coming!" "Its ok. I've got your back." We're better together. Stronger together. Every year on New Year's Eve I watch Scarface. And every year I can't help but think that if Tony Montana hadn't killed his best friend... together they would have survived. Its a tragedy. And it can be avoided. Because when I Rant about Jesus I'm Ranting about love. And love is giving. Love is relationship. We let the smallest thngs destroy our relationships when, really, "...above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Love is as strong as it gets, right? Love is all-powerful. So we don't have to let little things become big things. We don't have to give things power that have no power. We can just love people no matter what. Love covers THE multitude of sins. All. Everything. It doesn't matter how someone treats you. You can turn the other cheek. You're stronger than what's trying to trip you up. We can lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily besets us. We can be the bigger person. Take the high road. And we can--and should--do it together. Help each other. Encourage each other. Its not good for us to be alone. We are social creatures, by nature. Even me. And I'm practically a hermit. But I know I can't do it all by myself. I can only do what I can do. And that's all we should expect from each other. If we expect anything at all from each other. Instead of expecting things FROM each other, we should be more interested in what we can do FOR each other. Bind ourselves together into that threefold cord. Because if I do my part, and you do your part, chances are everything will get done. But if I try to do it all myself--or if I expect you to do it all yourself--we'll both probably burn out and none of it will get done. Its ok to say no. Its ok to stay in your own lane. Be YOU. Do what YOU can do. Together... we're better. Stronger. Complete. Just as we are complete in Him--we have no lack because our God has no lack--we complete each other. That might sound cheesy, but its true. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom. I think I used this quote already, but it fits. "If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together." We need each other. When we're there for each other, we give strength and receive strength. Making ourselves and each other... strong.