From the Pastor

Two Are Better than One
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

If your first thought upon reading the title of this article was that I had the institution of holy matrimony in mind, think again. The Ecclesiastes passage is often used at weddings. I have used the verse for that purpose myself. But the notion of strength in numbers in this verse seems to have been originally intended for the battlefield: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” You don’t have to be married to experience the blessing of “myself + another person = greater strength than I would have alone.” Alone time might still be important. Solitude might indeed be what you need to regroup and find peace. But still… as the passage says, “two are better than one” (4:9).

The other day, I found something about the science behind the importance of friendships. What fascinated me most about what I discovered was not the point often made these days — that social isolation is harmful. We already know that. We’ve all heard the statistics before, especially in the wake of the COVID epidemic. What was interesting about THIS bit of science was that even though our culture seems so often prone to prioritize romantic love, and while having a close friend or confidant is undeniably good for us, psychologists have found that interactions with acquaintances — even those who are relative strangers — can also give us a boost. That person from work you bump into once a week, the pet store employee who remembers you, or a brief conversation with the local coffee barista… all make people happier. These “weak tie-ins,” as researchers call them, can be surprisingly beneficial to human wellness. A mentor I know once recommended seeking “people of peace” in our community even if just another person walking their dog! Start a conversation. See where it goes.

I mention all of this because that time of the year is rolling around again when opportunities to gather at RLC for service, fellowship, and deeper dives into God’s Word abound. It’s a month to remember how meditation on God’s Word that goes beyond a Sunday sermon or the effort to serve people other than the folks we see every day can open the door for God to grow us spiritually. If you haven’t yet picked up the Fall 1 booklet (Sep-Oct) for discipleship opportunities at RLC, I invite you to do so. But rather than only emphasize the need for “Bible study” or leave behind the impression that everyone who comes together at RLC for our weekly “Supper & Scripture” events will automatically find synergy with someone, I’d like to pitch the event this year as a place where we can all discover the simple truth of Ecclesiastes 4. Whether that is a “weak tie-in” or a renewed bond with another person we already know, God can bless our fellowship with one another.

And here’s something even better: Jesus is here! Jesus is among us. This fall let’s rediscover how powerfully two CAN be better than one. As we do, together with our loving Savior, we will also see again how a strand of three cords is not easily broken.

Peace and joy in Him,
Pastor Jonathan