Stronger Together

Wednesday - April 14th

Scripture to Read Today: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

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Two are better than one,

because 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.

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Redwood trees grow from a tiny seed, but they grow as tall as a thirty-five-story building.

You would think that a 350-foot-tall tree would need deep roots, but that's not the case at all. Redwood tree roots are very shallow, often only five to seven feet deep. They make up for it in the width of their reach, sometimes extending up to 100 feet from the tree's trunk. They thrive in thick groves, where the roots can intertwine and fuse as one. This intertwining gives them great strength against the forces of nature. Because of this, they can withstand swirling winds and raging floods.

Redwoods live a tribal and communal life. They never survive the ages alone. Sometimes they grow so close to each other they merge into one tree. Their close connectedness provides strength and nutrients. This inter-reliance demonstrated in the redwoods illustrates the kind of support, encouragement, love, and strength we should have among our brothers and sisters in God's family.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 echoes what many passages of the New Testament tell us about our bond as believers. We are stronger together. We cannot survive alone. Our lives are to be intertwined so that we are interdependent - looking out for each other. When one of us is weak, others are there to be strong for us. When they are weak, we are there to hold them up. "If either of them falls down, one can help the other up" (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

In the complexity of our world, we should be looking out for other brothers and sisters in Christ. We should notice when others are hurting. We should be ready to be of support and encouragement when needed. God has given us our fellow believers for our good and His glory. He has given us to them for their good and His glory.

Look around. There may be a brother or sister who needs you right now. Encourage them. Lift them up. Be with them in their time of need.

God gives us each other in His Body, so when they feel inadequate, we stand with others in strength!