Working Together

Welcome to another podcast of Legacy of Freedom.

I'm your host, Eric McBride.

I'm glad that you're here today.

We're going to be talking about working together.

Can you remember a time when you really could use some help of a task that you felt was overwhelming?

I've got good news for you today.

God's given us everything we need to live a godly life, and that, my friend, includes others helping us and working together.

Grab your pencil and your paper, your pen, cup of coffee or tea, and let's settle in to see what the Word of God is saying to us today.

We're going to be in Ecclesiastes chapter number four.

Solomon's writing, and he says, 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 may prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him.

A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Solomon is advocating for the benefit of working together rather than against one another or alone, and he makes his case for living and laboring in partnership.

One of the most notable obstacles in any community or team is the stumbling block of comparison and competitiveness.

If we're honest, we can recall that even the disciples that Jesus handpicked after all night prayer seeking God on who to choose to be his disciples on more than one occasion argued amongst themselves who would be the most valuable disciple in the register of heaven.

But today we understand the kingdom is not built by our might or sheer determination.

It's only accomplished by the leading and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Solomon writes that two are better than one.

And the insight is that we can accomplish more together.

Why are two better than one?

Well it gives us the answer because they get a good reward on their labor.

Think of it this way when someone's helping you to obtain your goals and you're working together, you accomplish twice as much as when you try to do it by yourself.

And you get a good return on your labor.

He goes on to say that when two pursue their labor or their goal, one will be there to lift up his companion.

If they fall, the other will help him up.

You know, there's times when you're going to fall.

There's the, you know, the bump in the road, the washout in the road, you go, you go through seasons of, you know, you feel like you're running into walls.

Well, to have someone working with you.

And listen, this is good for husbands and wives because you're working toward one goal.

And so when you're working together, you accomplish more than when you work against each other.

Don't allow the enemy to make you an opponent to those who God has put in your life.

Don't begin to be critical or judgmental that they're not like you, because there's one spirit who gives the gifts, but each one he administers gifts how he sees fit.

And so you may not operate in the same giftings or the same calling, but yet when you work together, God will let it be in harmony and you'll accomplish more.

He goes on to say that if two lie together, they keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

This best fits in the marriage context.

Have you ever heard or used the statement, well, he's in the doghouse?

Well, the doghouse they're talking about is not the inside dog who has the run-of-the-mill lifestyle.

This references to the yard dog outside in the elements, not in close proximity to the loving hand of his master.

Better said, He's on the couch tonight.

He's outside the good graces and companionship of his wife.

And let me tell you, the couch is cold and lonely.

We need the warmth that close relationships afford.

And to say what Solomon said, it is better to be warm than cold.

Then he goes on to bring out this truth.

When there's two of us, we can overcome the attacker.

Oppression is bad, but one way to stave it off is to have someone walking with you.

Teamwork is always accomplishing more than just an individual.

Even when Jesus sent the disciples out, he sent them out by two.

You know, you need companionship.

The Bible is very clear.

A man might prevail against one who is alone, but two will withstand him, and a threefold cord or three stranded cord is not easily broken.

When God is with you and he sends you out two by two with the anointing and the giftings of the Holy Spirit, you will have a good outcome.

I believe that.

Doesn't mean that you can't be opposed, doesn't mean the enemy won't come against you, doesn't mean that you won't fall, doesn't mean that you won't have cold nights, doesn't mean that you'll always have just a clear road ahead of you.

But when you have someone to help you along in your journey, there's a good outcome.

Maybe today you fought against some things.

You wanted to do it your way, kind of like Frank Sinatra used to saying, I did it my way.

But would you come to the place to ask God who He has put in your life, those that He surrounded you with that can help you have a good outcome?

Yes, the Holy Spirit is our help and our guide.

He is our comforter, he is our teacher, but God has surrounded you with others to help you in your journey.

May today be a day of reflection upon those that God has brought into your life and those that God is bringing into your life, that you may accomplish all that God has placed in your life to do for the kingdom, and that you may live a life that is a legacy of freedom that others can follow in your footsteps to Jesus.

Let's pray today.

Father, I thank you for those that have listened today.

I pray that you will make us aware, God, of those that you've brought into our lives.

God, even those who have opposed us and those you've placed with us to strengthen us and help us.

Father, may we be a companion that helps others when they fall.

May we be one, Lord, that gives the warmth of companionship when others are cold.

May we help others to overcome oppression and to stave off the attacks because God, you have placed us here to be one who bears one another's burdens.

We thank you for that.

We thank you for your grace for today.

And Lord, we thank you for the blessings you have placed upon our lives through others to help us accomplish much.

In Jesus' name and amen.

Well, I hope that you enjoyed today's podcast.

Tune in, share with a friend, and invite others to join us as we seek to leave a legacy of freedom.

It's been a while.