Two is Good; Three is Best!

Hello and Happy Monday!

I babysat my grandpup this weekend while my son took my two granddaughters to a football game. My grandpup Walter is half Akita Shepherd and half Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is still a puppy, and his paws are bigger than my full-grown Shepherd/Husky male. To say that there was a ton of expended energy on my property would be a major understatement. Those dogs played hard, for hours and hours. My friend Denise says, “every dog needs a dog” and after seeing my Baxter play so hard this weekend, that was never more apparent. No, I do not want a second dog 

When I opened my Bible app this morning it gave me this verse: Galatians 6:2 (English Standard Version) “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

I have read this verse and heard this verse dozens if not hundreds of times. In this verse we, as Christians, are encouraged to help each other in times of difficulty and need. It means being there for one another, both emotionally and practically, when someone is going through a challenging situation. This could include offering a listening ear, providing physical assistance, or offering comfort and encouragement.

But today I reread the words “and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Hmmm?

To "bear one another's burdens" is a call to empathy, compassion, and practical support. It means that as members of a community or as human beings in general, we should be there for each other during times of difficulty!

However, the second part of the verse, "fulfill the law of Christ," underscores the idea that by living out this principle, we are embodying the essence of Christ's teachings!

Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." ESV

This verse emphasizes the importance of offering encouragement and support to fellow believers. It highlights the role of the Christian community in lifting each other's spirits and providing help when help is most needed.

The "law of Christ" could be a concise way of summarizing His message, which emphasizes love, compassion, and selfless service. When we extend our support to others, we are, in essence, practicing the core values that Jesus exemplified in His life. We fulfill His teachings not just through faith but through action, by showing kindness, care, and understanding to those around us.

Galatians 6:2 is a reminder of the importance of community, empathy, and love. It calls us to be there for one another, to share in each other's joys and sorrows, and to live a life that reflects the love and compassion of Christ. It's a guiding principle that encourages us to build strong, supportive communities and foster a world where burdens are lighter because they are shared.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

Strength and resilience comes from unity and companionship. In the context of a "threefold cord" we see a relationship or partnership involving three individuals who support each other. I like to think of Jesus as being that third cord in any and all relationships. He is the cord that binds; He is the cord that strengthens.

When people work together and support one another, they are stronger and more durable than when they are alone. And just as a cord made of three strands is not easily broken, so too is any group of three, with Jesus.

With our eyes on Jesus, we are better equipped to handle and overcome challenges and adversity, but we should not do it alone either. People need community. We need each other. We are all part of something much bigger! And that “something” needs everyone to participate.

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV

Let's all be part of that "one" body.

by Jeanette Stark – Monday, October 23, 2023