Devo Post #2

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
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.

Today I listened to Pastor Darrin’s sermon on community. He chose this verse from the book of Ecclesiastes, known as the book of wisdom. The message here is very simple: do not go through life alone. Throughout most of Ecclesiastes, the author King Solomon emphasizes all the “meaningless”things in life. His overarching theme is life apart from God is meaningless. Pastor Darrin draws the notion that you cannot worship the creator or enjoy the life He has given you without having people supporting you, encouraging you, and challenging you. Sounds like Tim Keller right there (probably a source).

Now to elaborate his point, Pastor Darrin goes into the definition of a friend. What is a friend? We have enemies. We also have fans. But we rarely have friends. A friend is someone who will “believe the best about us, and wade through the worst with us.” Basically, someone you trust to be there for you through the good and bad. Sounds like a wedding vow to me...hopefully everyone’s spouse is their best friendl. But everyone needs friends, and for a Christian, spiritual friends that perform functions in our lives are absolutely necessary. When the time comes when you are in a lot of pain, you need people to come and assure you that God is still in control, that God is still good, and to answer the questions that are sure to be mounting in your mind. During those times of confusion and frustration, you need people to discern the situation for you and help reveal the sin in you that is preventing community. Everyone needs someone to share their hopes, their dreams, and their fears with. That is true friendship.

To me, my relationships and friendships are God’s sign to me that he has rewarded me and answered my prayers. I know He is watching over me and showering me with his love. I am grateful everyday that God has blessed me with many great friends who I trust and have fellowship, and will always be grateful.

Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another” The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host. - C.S. Lewis