Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Being alone when trials come in life multiplies all the feelings because we are trying to process everything alone. Having someone by our side makes all the difference and God knew we would need our friends for this journey. Bear one another’s burdens should not just be another command in the Bible to us, it should be how we live our lives. If you have not experienced someone else helping you to bear your burdens, then you do not fully understand the enormous blessing that it is. Chances are, someday you will need it too.
One of the big reasons that God gave us friends is to strengthen us as we experience trials.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Friends help us, work alongside us, and lift us up when we fall down. This applies physically and most of all, spiritually. Who will “gently restore” us? Our brothers and sisters in Christ who are probably some of our very best friends. Not only do they restore us when we fall but they help us walk straight the rest of the time.
Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? Loneliness is very cold, but the warmth of friendship is a comfort we all need.
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. In Bible times, it was very dangerous for anyone to travel alone. They mostly traveled in groups for fellowship and safety. Whatever we have to face in life, the storms, the adversity, the tragedy, or the stranger on the road at night, facing it alone is much harder than with a friend. They walk with us to bolster our strength to get past anything.
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. The last portion of the passage refers to a threefold cord. If one individual and another individual cord make a twofold cord, the threefold cord must have an additional element that we can infer to be God. Two are strong but three are even stronger, especially when God is the third cord.
This passage holds a powerful lesson we need to hear: God never expected us to live life alone. We are drawn to relationships and community because that is how He made us. Community makes us stronger – individually and as a whole.
Jesus Himself exampled for us the power of walking through trials with friends by your side. He had His disciples who shared meals with Him, worked alongside Him and for Him, and who He shared His life with. They prayed with Him and for Him, and they helped to bear His burdens as much as they could.
It is a privilege to bear each other’s burdens. It is a place of honor and when we choose to bear more than our own share, He bears it along with us giving us strength to withstand the weight.
