How does this snow remind me of the local church? Think about the beauty you see each time it snows... before anyone has made any tracks in the snow... you see a huge blanket covering everything. Now think for a moment how big a snow flake is. Just one. One snow flake can easily fit on the tip of your finger but when it joins other snowflakes, you can have a large snowfall like today. Some folks are reporting 20 or more inches of snow in their yard.
So what does that have to do with the local church? It is another great example that God has given us about the need for our church family. On our own, we are not able to do as much work. On our own, we are very vulnerable to temptation and destruction. On our own, we are very weak. But when the local church comes together, it is beautiful to see all of the relationships growing stronger, it's members working together to fulfill the Great Commission and the local church can accomplish so much more than any one individual.
Consider this passage of Scripture.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
How is "two" better than "one"? Here are four reasons we need each other.
9 ...because they have a good reward for their toil.
Imagine a dump truck lost part of its load at the end of your driveway and now you have 1,000 pounds of rock keeping you from being able to go anywhere. Let's say that each rock weighs 50 pounds each and because of their size and shape, you can only carry one at a time. That would mean you would have to pick up 20 rocks before you could drive your car!
But what if your neighbor saw what happened and came over to help? Now you only have to pick up 10 rocks apiece. Just by adding one person. What if three other guys saw what you were doing and came to the rescue? Then you would only have to pick up 4 rocks each! THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 20 TRIPS AND 4 TRIPS.
Being a pastor for the last 20 years, I have seen many people trying to pick up 20 rocks when all they had to do was ask their church family to help. If they had gotten 20 people to do the task, each one would only have to pick up ONE ROCK!
WHAT IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE ROCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WEIGHED 1,000 POUNDS??? Using this example, one person couldn't do it by themselves but 20 people working together could do it.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
This verse alone speaks volumes why we need our church family! When we isolate ourselves, it is so much harder to get up when we fall into temptation or discouragement. We have no one to see us fall, we have no one to protect us and no one to encourage us.
But when we have our church family around us, they notice when we are down or hurting. They also notice when we start to drift away or fall back into some dangerous patterns in our lives. We can love and be loved. We can help each other remember that no matter what happens in our lives, we are not alone. We can remind each other of God's faithfulness and power.
Speaking from experience, I can't tell you how many times somebody from our church family has encouraged me, challenged me to grow, reminded me of the big picture and so much more. Don't miss out on these benefits.
11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
Sometimes my wife speaks a few words that I am supposed to recognize as many words. For example, at a cinema, she may say, "I am cold." which is translated in Rhondaese as "I am cold so get closer and let me snuggle up to you and warm up." If I don't get that message, she will repeat herself and say, "Honey, I said I am cold." then a light bulb goes off above my head and I understand what she wanted me to do.
Think about what happens when you are alone (more than you want to be). Time drags on. No interaction with anyone. Your mind begins to run in every possible direction... "What if...", "I hope...", "I don't think I can...", etc. Mary Teresa once said, "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."
While I was writing this post, I searched Google for images under the title "loneliness". So many of those photos show sorrow, pain and suffering with no one around to help them. Just look at this pic I found and see what I mean...
Now contrast that photo with these photos...
This is what it is like to be a part of a local church. Enjoying each other. Celebrating each other. Helping each other in times of need. Loving others warms them up.
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
When training for overseas mission trips, we were told to always pair up with someone in our group and never wander off from your group alone. So many news reports have shown where someone was abducted because they were an easy target. When somebody pulls away from the group, nobody is there to protect them from trouble.
The same is true in local church. We have each other to help protect us from trouble. Every one of us will be attacked by the evil one but thank God for our church family. We can pray for each other and hold each other accountable. We can protect each other from wandering away from the faith. We need each other. You can't make it on your own. God knows that and this is why He gave us this list of "one anothers" in scripture. I hope that you will take the time to look through this list and see why we need each other so much.
1. Be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)
2. Love one another (Jn 13:34)
3. Be joined to one another (Ro 12:5)
4. Be devoted to one another (Ro 12:10)
5. Honor one another (Ro 12:10)
6. Rejoice with one another (Ro 12:15)
7. Weep with one another (Ro 12:15)
8. Live in harmony with one another (Ro 12:16)
9. Accept one another (Ro 15:7)
10. Counsel one another (Ro 15:14)
11. Greet one another (Ro 16:16)
12. Agree with each other (1 Co 1:10)
13. Wait for one another (1 Co 11:33)
14. Care for one another (1 Co 12:25)
15. Serve one another (Gal 5:13)
16. Carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
17. Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32)
18. Forgive one another (Eph 4:32)
19. Submit to one another (Eph 5:21)
20. Bear with one another (Col 3:13)
21. Teach, admonish each other (Col 3:16)
22. Encourage one another (1 Th 5:11)
23. Build up one another (1 Th 5:11)
24. Spur one another on (Heb 10:24)
25. Offer hospitality to one another (1 Pe 4:9)
26. Minister gifts to one another (1 Pe 4:10)
27. Be humble toward one another (1 Pe 5:5)
28. Confess your sins to one another (Jas 5:16)
29. Pray for one another (Jas 5:16)
30. Fellowship with one another (1 Jn 1:7)
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