#346.3 – “God Math, Lesson Three: Two > One”

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Before Sarah and I were ever married, we talked about how many children we each wanted to have. Being an only child of sorts (I do have three older half-brothers, none of whom lived with us), I figured we would have one. Sarah, being one of two children, had always dreamed of having… you guessed it… four (I gave up figuring her math a long time ago!) – two of one sex and two of the other... and she specifically wanted two of the same sex to be born back-to-back, and then the other two of the opposite sex to be born after that. To my knowledge, she graciously left God room to decide which sex would come first (although I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she was whispering ‘girl’ in His ear the first time around)!
The truth is that we are both grateful for our four kids. And we’re not just grateful for each individual child, but also for the fact that we have four. Having two and two means that, not only do our kids have a childhood playmate, but for the rest of their lives they will have a support… a confidant… a friend (although there are plenty of times when we wonder if they will survive each other in the childhood stage!).
There is strength in numbers. And God intends for His Church to be a community of believers, who work together toward a common goal. He gifts us as individuals, but He brings our individual gifts together (in the context of a local church) to make a unique representation of Him to the world around us.
And part of the reason why He does so is because the group accomplishes much more than an individual could do. Two really are better than one. And three are better than two.
And another part of the reason why He does so is because the group working as one best represents His nature as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit… three entities who are as One.
It ‘works’ for God, and it will always ‘work’ for us as well. We are our best and we do our best when we unite with others around us and work with each other.
So today I urge us to be thankful for the others who help make up the Body of Christ with us. Thank God for them; and thank them for their contribution to the Kingdom of God.

Daniel