"Two or Three"

There’s a need for us to sharpen,

Our tools along the way,

The more we use the gifts God gives,

The more we need to say,

That we are not lone rangers,

We need each other’s time,

To encourage and to strengthen,

And to help us walk the line.

And even the Lone Ranger,

Had a sidekick we all know,

Tonto worked with Kemosabe,

On that old TV show.

So don’t you miss the lesson,

Find all the help you need,

This is so important,

Your life in Christ to feed.

I’ve known lots of top hands,

Whose skills were very strong,

But refused the help they needed,

And they never lasted long.

And, yes, one has to saddle,

Their own horse and then ride,

But God has so designed us,

To have partners by our side.

People who will sharpen us,

And help us stay on track,

Who’ll always speak the truth in love,

And always have our back.

And, yes, I know with His strength,

We can do all things,

But the way He strengthens us,

Through fellowship He brings.

Two are so much better,

Than one who fights alone,

A threefold cord is best of all,

When that first punch is thrown.

So ask the Lord to give you,

The sharpening you need,

The blessing of a couple friends,

Who’ll let the Spirit lead.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed…” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NLT)

There is ancient wisdom here. While teaching personal responsibility, the scriptures make it clear that we need help from others. God will certainly grace us directly, but He also uses people to sharpen, strengthen, and bring adjustment to us. God’s word specifically mentions the power gained when “two or three” team up. Solomon spoke of the “threefold chord” that is not easily broken, and of how one man can sharpen another, even as iron sharpens iron. Jesus talked about two or three who gather in His name, bind and loose in His name, pray in His name, and confront the sins of a brother in His name. Two or three is the basic cell of the body of Christ, and to ignore our need for it is naive and puts us at risk.

Lord, help us find the right spiritual partners, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission, Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.