Life Quest
“Better Together”
Father’s Day
June 18, 2006
Introduction: Today we are looking at another aspect to what it means to be on a Life Quest. We have talked for the last two weeks about the first aspect of our mission statement, “To passionately pursue God.” Over the next several weeks we are going to be talking about the second half which is “to express his love to others.”
Our lives are made up not only of a personal journey with God, but with interpersonal relationships formed with other human beings. God designed us from the very beginning to be social creatures. He knew that we would need relationships and would need intimacy with others to fully function the way that he created us to live. Not only is that true of us individually, it is true of the church as a whole.
Today we want to look at a section of scripture that helps us to realize that we are not only created for relationships, but we are better off because of our relationships.
God created us to live in relationship.
“And the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." Genesis 2:18 (NLT)
“You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)
Through our relationships we benefit each other.
“Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. 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 (NLT)
I. We accomplish more together
In the passages before the one we are looking at, the writer of the text has been talking about how life is filled with greedy people. He talks about how people toil and labor for their own gain. That kind of mindset is frustrating. It frustrates us to work selfishly.
“Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9
It is encouraging to work alongside a friend. We get energy and we support in our friendships.
It is in striving together that we see the value in relationships.
Have you ever tried to tackle a major task on your own? How did it make you feel? Were you overwhelmed? Were you frustrated?
Too often in life we take things in an individualistic mindset. We have an idea that we need to accomplish things on our own and not seek out help. The problem is, when we operate that way we get burnt out, overwhelmed and frustrated.
II. We need each other.
We are designed with a need for other people. Whether we realize it or not, we have a need for relationships in our lives. It is when we are stunted in our development of relationships that we become unhealthy individuals.
“If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:10
Relationships are designed to strengthen us.
Now, some relationships are energy giving and some are energy draining. But the key we need to understand is that we need to recognize our need to be vulnerable in our relationships in order to be healthy.
Jesus had some amazing relationships. He had people around him who he loved and poured his life into them. Scripture tells us that he also used those friends for support in his most difficult times.
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” Matthew 26:36-37 (NIV)
At the major events in Jesus life we see him taking his disciples, but particularly Peter, James and John. Those three had a special relationship with Jesus and at his most trying time, he called on them for support.
The church was designed to be a support for one another. Scripture tells us to work to build one another up.
“We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things.” Hebrews 10:24 (God’s Word)
God gave individuals in the church specific gifts to help the church function together and support one another.
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)
Every member of the body plays a role in supporting the others.
III. We protect each other.
Part of the role of a relationship is to protect each other.
“And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. 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 4:11-12
There is strength in numbers.
No one likes to be in scary or dangerous situations alone. I remember being in downtown Los Angels and going out to do street ministry in teams. I made sure that I got my friend Michael, a former Army Ranger as my partner. Numbers offer a certain sense of security for us.
There are different types of protection.
There is physical protection.
There is an aspect of our lives where we are willing to give up ourselves in protection of someone else.
The other night, not long after we had gone to bed, Alana and I heard a loud bang in our house. I immediately shot out of bed and began to search the house to discover what was going on. Dads, isn’t that a natural reaction? Don’t we immediately determine to put ourselves in harms way instead of our children?
Physical sacrifice is an aspect of love.
“This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.” John 15:13 (The Message)
There is moral protection.
Part of our role as fellow Christians is to help protect others from moral failure.
“Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong.” Galatians 6:1 (Living)
The term we use to describe this type of love is accountability.
We need to have people in our lives who can ask us the hard questions. We need people who will point out areas of weakness and give us honest input into our lives.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)
Men, the enemy of your soul is out to trap you. And if he cannot get you to turn your back on God, he will try to isolate you and tempt you to destroy your family. The greatest thing you can do to protect yourself is get other men involved in your life who can lovingly speak the truth of God into you.
I want to invite you to a men’s group that meets every Tuesday morning at Cracker Barrel in Stuart. We are there at 6:00 to share, talk and encourage each other in our walk with God.
As Christians we are in the greatest danger when we are isolated.
Conclusion: We are better together. We accomplish more than we ever dream or imagine when we stand alongside one another and build one another up. Today, will you commit to live your life in honest relationship with God and others? Will you Will you seek out honest relationships to encourage you, strengthen you and protect you?
