Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Fifteen years ago, I found myself in uncharted waters. This unexpected storm of life stirred emotions of fear, grief, confusion, sadness, anger, and somehow numbness all at the same time. My two youngest children were feeling the effects of having their lives turned upside down. I cried out to God, wondering how I was going to live; how I was going to make ends meet, how I was going to take my next breath, and more importantly, how I was going to help my kids cope and heal through the pain and tears. The three of us prayed. I reminded them of Ecclesiastes 4:12, “... a triple braided cord cannot be broken.” This was a reminder to them of our unity, our teamwork, and that we could get through this together and with God at the center of our lives. Our battle cry, “TBC” (triple-braided cord), carried us through. My youngest had a ball cap custom-made with the letters TBC, which he has to this day.
Two are better than one, they have a good return for their labor. 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. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
This is a beautiful picture of how profitable and protective teamwork is; “they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” And just as a cord of three strands is much stronger than a single strand or two strands, a union with God at its center is more resilient and less likely to be "broken" or overcome.
Teamwork. We’ve all heard it before: there’s no “I” in teamwork. The greatest teams, the greatest corporations, the greatest churches, the greatest families are not those who just have a sole gifted lone-ranger leader, but many working together as a unified team. The church should be a team of loving Christians who work together in the name of Christ for the glory of God.
Fifteen years ago, I found myself in uncharted waters. This unexpected storm of life stirred emotions of fear, grief, confusion, sadness, anger, and somehow numbness all at the same time. My two youngest children were feeling the effects of having their lives turned upside down. I cried out to God, wondering how I was going to live; how I was going to make ends meet, how I was going to take my next breath, and more importantly, how I was going to help my kids cope and heal through the pain and tears. The three of us prayed. I reminded them of Ecclesiastes 4:12, “... a triple braided cord cannot be broken.” This was a reminder to them of our unity, our teamwork, and that we could get through this together and with God at the center of our lives. Our battle cry, “TBC” (triple-braided cord), carried us through. My youngest had a ball cap custom-made with the letters TBC, which he has to this day.
Two are better than one, they have a good return for their labor. 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. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
This is a beautiful picture of how profitable and protective teamwork is; “they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” And just as a cord of three strands is much stronger than a single strand or two strands, a union with God at its center is more resilient and less likely to be "broken" or overcome.
Teamwork. We’ve all heard it before: there’s no “I” in teamwork. The greatest teams, the greatest corporations, the greatest churches, the greatest families are not those who just have a sole gifted lone-ranger leader, but many working together as a unified team. The church should be a team of loving Christians who work together in the name of Christ for the glory of God.
Posted in Devotional