TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12b
Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Listen: Ecclesiastes 4
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Have you fallen, been caught in the cold or been jumped? In ancient Israel, those were perilous situations. Rough terrain made travel dangerous and unforgiving. A travel injury or delay could be fatal. A traveler ran the risk of being mugged every time they rounded a blind corner. The author of Ecclesiastes uses these travel hazards to help us realize life is unsure, uncertain and unpredictable. His solution—travel together.
The thing about traveling together is that you have to arrange it ahead of time. You can’t always see the hazards coming. A traveler couldn’t find someone to walk with him after he found himself face-to-face with a bunch of ruffians. Either he had someone with him, or he did not. It works the same way for us. A car comes out of nowhere. You suddenly struggle with feelings of anxiety you’ve never had before. The relationship you hoped was going places is now over. You just experienced your second miscarriage. You either have people to help, or you don’t. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us, “Don’t travel alone.”
Pastor Jeff Manion tells us in the video clip below that the relationships we cultivate when nothing is wrong help sustain us when everything goes wrong. Those relationships help preserve our soul and our emotions. There will be times when you need people at your side people, and they need you at theirs. That’s traveling together.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Take a step towards traveling together. Twice a year, we launch new small groups. Today is the last day to sign up for Group Launch for community groups that meet in homes, offices, coffee shops or wherever. On-campus groups meet at your campus at specific times each week.
- If you aren’t in a small group, what are you waiting for? Don’t travel alone. Sign up for a small group here.
- If you are in a small group, lean into it. Travel together when you commit to be there, engage with others, be yourself and be honest with your group
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
