Better Together

Some things you just don't eat by themselves, but when they are added with other things, it's great. Mayo, salt, spices, jelly, salad dressing, mustard, lettuce, etc. Other things you do on a day-to-day basis have things that go together, that without it would make both useless. Toothbrush and toothpaste - you can't just use one. You can't use shampoo without water - unless you use dry shampoo. Coffee grounds and water - you can't just scoop some coffee grounds into your mouth and swallow it down. And other things are good by themselves, but are better together, like macaroni and cheese, chocolate and peanut butter (Reese's), smore's, books and coffee, mountains and beaches. 

Do you already know where I'm going with this? 


"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12


"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." - Proverbs 27:17


You might be as good as chocolate without the peanut butter or cheese without the macaroni. You can stand alone and do just fine. But you won't be great until other people are in your life, deep in your life. No, that's not just my opinion, it's what the bible says. Eventually we all fall. Eventually we're all cold. Eventually we're all attacked. And sharing in something joyful with another person just multiplies the joy! So why keep all the good stuff to yourself?

I read the other day something that was interesting - when everything was perfect in the world and no sin had entered in yet, God still looked down and saw that Adam needed a person to be with him. Even though things were "perfect." Even when Adam could have done "fine" on his own. But he wasn't fine because God created him to need another person. So God gave him Eve. If Adam was in a perfect world and was just fine, but he was better together with Eve, then certainly we, living in a non-perfect world, need other people. 

On the flip side, you might fee like your life is too messy to involve other people in it. Like when you get it together, then you'll have friends or invite people into your life. But that's not what Ecclesiastes says there. It says when you fall, others can reach out and help. "But someone who falls alone, is in real trouble." That means people have to be around before, during, and after you fall. And in Proverbs, when you're dull, another person can come along side and encourage you, and you them, or see things from a different perspective, or use their strengths in your life where you have weaknesses, or at the very least lift you up in prayer that you don't feel like you're able to pray for yourself. And news flash - nobody's life is perfect. So even if you're a hot mess, chances are, most people around you are too. 

Yesterday at work, a friend came in that I haven't seen in a while, and I got to talk to her on my ten minute break. Knowing my time was short, I just poured out what was on my heart and said, "Well, there's my 60 seconds of the anguish of my heart." We laughed. And she was on a similar page as me.

This means you have to go - act - try - pursue - to have friends and spend time with them and keep in touch with them.

"But I'm too busy." Then cut something useless out of your life. "But I'm too lazy." Don't let that be a cop out. "But I'm an introvert." Cool, but that doesn't exempt you from having friendships. It might just mean you have less close friends, or you spend a little less time with them, but they're still there. "But I'm focused on work and/or school." Work and school won't nourish your soul or help you walk with the Lord better (unless you work at a church or something), and if you realized you could have helped someone else who was struggling but turned your back on them then you will probably regret it some day.

Now imagine God asking you in heaven, "Did you love my people?" and your response being, "I was too busy. I was too lazy. I was an introvert. I was focused on work and school."

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?''Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' 'Yes, Lord,' Peter said, 'you know I love you.' 'Then take care of my sheep,' Jesus said. A third time he asked him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, 'Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Then feed my sheep.'" - John 21:15-17