Maybe there’s rough hammer marks on me, but the stuff I’m made of is the right iron.”
–Max Brand (The Desert Pilot)
“As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.”
“As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.”
–Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
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I know the saying, “Woe is me” and if you really believe it, it will stay that way. You will be alone in your woes. Let me continue, I’m a person who hated group work, both as a student and as a teacher. Most of the time it is a bunch of nonsense. Now, you must understand I am not speaking of team-building, working as a team on a project, in a game, a church, or special unit of some sort. In business, proprietorships don’t go very far. Expeditions are hard to finance by an individual.
Let’s draw upon the wisdom of Solomon in regard to partnership. There is much to say on this matter, but I want to dwell only on the basics. Look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
9 — Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 — 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.
11 — Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12 — Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (NKJV)
I will not say that it is an absolute fact, but most of the time two are better than one. Working a difficult job will become easier. The strength of two should be doubled whether it is physical or mental work. With a person by our side we gain a different perspective. The ideas can be intertwined or one rejected through mutual discussion. Warmth–cold feet in the bed at night, brrr, but when my wife puts her next to mine hers become warm. There are many stories of people who survived in cold situations because they shared body heat.
Someone has written, “Potatoes are cheaper/Tomatoes are cheaper/Now’s the time to fall in love.” The gist of the poem is that two can live just as cheap as one–the key is if they share the load, the chores, the pay, the upkeep. It continues, “Grab yourself someone/To fry your eggs and bacon/Why, she can live just like a queen/On what you’re makin’.” Going through life alone is a hard thing; loneliness can be a crippler. Two, on the other hand, can share the events of the day, the months, and the years much easier if they have a mind to work on it.
Don’t forget the importance of watching out for each other. I drive–my wife navigates. We have made many, many trips over fifty years. We watch out for each other. We gain courage and strength from each other, we encourage each other when one is down and weak. Take two soldiers in a foxhole, they watch for each other. A man by himself could easily fall prey to the enemy. Remember that iron sharpens iron. There is mutual protection if an attack comes, and if there is a casualty, one is there for the wounded. The old commercial comes to mind, “Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” With another person by your side, there is hope.
All of this is true, but only true if you have the right working partner, the right spouse, the right friend. I’ve worked with some where it would be better if I was alone. I’ve worked with some that when they left, I had to redo their work. To put all these thoughts together, the key is to walk with the Lord. To know that He is beside you. The “Paraclete” is the Holy Spirit: one who guides, gives advice, helps, quickens, pushes, and if need be gives a kick in the pants. Together you go through this evil world and it is vital to know that He is with you every step of the way, every second of the clock.
———————————–
I know the saying, “Woe is me” and if you really believe it, it will stay that way. You will be alone in your woes. Let me continue, I’m a person who hated group work, both as a student and as a teacher. Most of the time it is a bunch of nonsense. Now, you must understand I am not speaking of team-building, working as a team on a project, in a game, a church, or special unit of some sort. In business, proprietorships don’t go very far. Expeditions are hard to finance by an individual.
Let’s draw upon the wisdom of Solomon in regard to partnership. There is much to say on this matter, but I want to dwell only on the basics. Look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
9 — Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 — 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.
11 — Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12 — Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (NKJV)
I will not say that it is an absolute fact, but most of the time two are better than one. Working a difficult job will become easier. The strength of two should be doubled whether it is physical or mental work. With a person by our side we gain a different perspective. The ideas can be intertwined or one rejected through mutual discussion. Warmth–cold feet in the bed at night, brrr, but when my wife puts her next to mine hers become warm. There are many stories of people who survived in cold situations because they shared body heat.
Someone has written, “Potatoes are cheaper/Tomatoes are cheaper/Now’s the time to fall in love.” The gist of the poem is that two can live just as cheap as one–the key is if they share the load, the chores, the pay, the upkeep. It continues, “Grab yourself someone/To fry your eggs and bacon/Why, she can live just like a queen/On what you’re makin’.” Going through life alone is a hard thing; loneliness can be a crippler. Two, on the other hand, can share the events of the day, the months, and the years much easier if they have a mind to work on it.
Don’t forget the importance of watching out for each other. I drive–my wife navigates. We have made many, many trips over fifty years. We watch out for each other. We gain courage and strength from each other, we encourage each other when one is down and weak. Take two soldiers in a foxhole, they watch for each other. A man by himself could easily fall prey to the enemy. Remember that iron sharpens iron. There is mutual protection if an attack comes, and if there is a casualty, one is there for the wounded. The old commercial comes to mind, “Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” With another person by your side, there is hope.
All of this is true, but only true if you have the right working partner, the right spouse, the right friend. I’ve worked with some where it would be better if I was alone. I’ve worked with some that when they left, I had to redo their work. To put all these thoughts together, the key is to walk with the Lord. To know that He is beside you. The “Paraclete” is the Holy Spirit: one who guides, gives advice, helps, quickens, pushes, and if need be gives a kick in the pants. Together you go through this evil world and it is vital to know that He is with you every step of the way, every second of the clock.