Two Are Better Than On

History is filled with stories of how feuding people become peaceful

partners because of the power of love in the lives of two people. One of the

most famous in American history is that of an 18-year-old Indian girl

Pocahontas and the Englishman John Rolfe. The Virginia colony was very

close to war with the Indian leader Powhatan. They were in the midst of

negotiations when the letter came from John Rolfe asking for permission to

marry Pocahontas. It was a pleasant surprise to both sides, for they were

heading for a showdown, and now everything was changed. It was the first

wedding between a white man and an Indian, and both sides were pleased for

it would mean peace between their peoples.

It was a glorious feasting affair, and the first time that the whites and

Indians could relax in each other's presence for several years. The Indians

brought much food, and so it was the first time in as many years that the

whites had been well-fed. Pocahontas had become a Christian, and she took

on the Christian name of Rebecca, and she and her new husband went to

England where she became the belle of London society. Neither of these two

people could have done much for their people alone, but the two together

made an impact that brought peace and profit to all. They illustrate the truth

of our text that two are better than one.

Two dollars are better than one dollar, and two heads are better than

one. Jesus was single, but he chose disciples to be with them. He had no

intention of trying to reach the world by himself. Paul was single, but he was

always seeking for companions and partners in the ministry. Without Dr.

Luke being by his side we would not have the record of his life and journeys.

God sent both His Son and His Spirit into the world, and we need both to

accomplish God's purpose because two are better than one.

Jesus sent out His disciples two by two for good reason, and we demand a

second in parliamentary procedure because at least two people have to be in

agreement to make anything worth debating. An idea that cannot get at least

two people interested is not worth the time of any group. It is just another

way of saying that two are better than one. Show me the man or woman who

has ever become great alone, and I will show you a fictional character.

History will not support the idea that you can become great alone.

Everybody who is anybody needs somebody as a partner. Even Cruso needed

his Friday, and the Lone Ranger needed his Tonto. Where would Abbot be

without Costello, and Laurel without Hardy?

In the Christian world we see that all great evangelists had their partners.

Moody had his Sankey, and Billy Graham had his George Beverly Shea. But

there is no point in endlessly trying to prove the obvious that two are better

than one. It is almost as self-evident as the saying that two are more than one.

Everything about this text is rather obvious. Two can get more work done

than one. Two can handle a problem better than one. Two can keep warm

better than one. Two can defend themselves better than one. It is not an

absolute, for two masters are not better than one, and Jesus said you can not

serve two masters. It is not an absolute truth, but it is true, and the challenge

is to see how it should change our lives in relationship to other people, and

especially other people we work with daily.

The essence of the text is that everybody needs somebody. We all need

support and help, and so we all need a friend and companion. If Christ is

going to transform our daily work, or any other part of our life, there are two

things that must be happening in our lives at all times. We must be receptive

to help from others, and we must be responsive with help that is needed by

others. In other words, we need to practice in every situation the truth that

two are better than one. This two-fold process is basically love in action.

You are to be ever recruiting partners in life because two are better than one

for you, and you are to be ever recognizing the need for a partner in others

because two are better than one for them.

This two-fold process of receptiveness and responsiveness will make this

truth very practical and helpful in all aspects of your life, and in all of your

relationships. It is really just another way of looking at how to do good to all

men, for by receiving help and giving help you do just that. Let's look at each