CONNECTED!

 

May 22, 2025

Ecclesiastes 4:9,12

“Two are better than one… A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” 

From the very beginning, God designed us for connection. Even in the Garden of Eden, where Adam had unbroken fellowship with God, the Lord still said, “It is not good for the humankind to be alone.” I believe this tells us something profound: we were never meant to walk through life in isolation, not even in the perfect world God created before sin entered the story.

Throughout Scripture, we find that God often works in and through relationships. Moses had Aaron, his brother and spokesperson. David found strength and loyalty in Jonathan’s friendship. Naomi and Ruth journeyed together from grief to hope. Paul mentored Timothy and relied on faithful companions during his missionary travels. These relationships were not just practical, in order to get things accomplished; these relationships were also incredibly spiritual. I believe we discover that they reflected God’s heart for fellowship.

One of the most vivid pictures of this is found in Mark 2. A paralyzed man couldn’t reach Jesus on his own, but he had four friends who believed Jesus could heal. They carried him, tore through a roof, and laid him at Jesus’ feet. And Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith…” (v.5). It was not just the man’s faith, but also the faith of his community, that moved the heart of Jesus.

Community strengthens our faith. "It lifts our heads when we’re weary. It corrects us when we stray, celebrates with us in victory, and weeps with us in sorrow. And sometimes, when we are too weak to pray, believe, or keep going, it is the faith of others that sustains us."

In a world that often celebrates independence, the Bible reminds us of the importance of interdependence. To carry one another’s burdens. To encourage daily. To confess, forgive, serve, and love. None of that happens by separation. No, we need each other. God designed his creation that way.


Let Us Pray

God, thank You for the gift of community. Forgive me when I isolate myself or believe the lie that I can do this alone. Help me to lean into the relationships You’ve given me. Make me someone who draws others closer to You by the way I love, serve, and walk alongside them. Amen.