Stronger Together

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 4:12)

On Thursday 18 September 2014, Scotland voted in a referendum which asked the question, "Should Scotland be an independent country?" The "No" side won. Those who fought for Scotland to remain as part of the United Kingdom adopted the motto ‘stronger together’.

I’ve noticed that since then, other causes have adopted this motto also. It’s short, to the point an needs no explanation.   And, have you ever noticed how many times in The Bible, this thought ‘stronger together’ occurs? Here are just a few examples:

1. In Genesis 2:18 we read, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”"

2. Regarding the friendship between Jonathan and David, we read, ‘Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.” 1 Samuel 23:16 NLT

3. Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs to minister, and the apostle Paul usually had travelling companions with him.

​My cousin recently said, ‘We humans aren’t designed or meant to go it alone.’ This is echoed in Galatians 6:2 where we are exhorted to ‘'carry each other’s burdens’'. And closely linked with this thought is the principle of unity. In Psalm 133 we read:
 

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, 
running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe."

Notice that unity is compared to the most precious item that existed in Israel at that time; the oil that was used to anoint the High Priest as he ministered before God. There was nothing more precious than this. In God’s eyes, unity is both precious and priceless. 

I recently read a quote from  Joni Eareckson Tada where she said, 

'Believers are never told to become one; we already are one and are expected to act like it.’

So, armed with the knowledge that there is strength in unity, there is power in unity, shall we march forward this week remembering that we are ‘stronger together’?
 

Pauline Ann Anderson