Ecclesiastes 4.9-12
Don’t wait till the bottom drops out of your life before you scramble to identify friends who can bolster you. The friendships we build when nothing is going wrong sustain us when everything is going wrong. ~ Jeff Manion [DBTS pg 116]
As the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us, we’re better able to endure life’s disruptions and disasters if we’re not traveling alone. The strength we find through the companionship of others, as well as the strength they receive from us, is how life is meant to be lived. Living life alone is dangerous.
As Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 4.12, a life lived alone is like a string. It’s easily broken. But a strand of three becomes a rope. It’s strong and able to withstand the pressure and tension. This is the value of long-term friends.
Today, as you welcome God into your week, complete the Reflection for Day 16 on page 117 in Dream Big, Thing Small. List by name those people you can reach out to when you find yourself trapped, confused, or dejected. If you’re unable to list anyone, then list those with whom you could potentially build life-giving friendships.
An Ada Bible Church small group can be a great place to begin this type of friendship. Check out Group Finder to locate a small group. If you’re in a group, and still don’t have that type of friendship, look to identify one person in the group with whom that type of relationship can be built.
