What a blessing to be a part of a congregation of believers, a close-knit family of God, made up of brothers and sisters in Christ! Consider Solomon’s words about companionship, in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
We Contribute Toward a Common Goal
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” It is more fruitful to work with a business partner, because the two can share insight, expertise, and encouragement. A family can accomplish more than a single person, and can make the same grocery budget stretch farther. Two horses hitched together can pull more together than the sum of the two horses pulling separately.
God designed the church to include many people with various talents, so that we will have bigger, more productive returns on our efforts. One person cannot do all the preaching, teach every age group, save the lost, vacuum the carpets, encourage the children, finance the work, lead the singing, repair the broken faucets. In a congregation, everyone works together in harmony. And everyone enjoys the success of the whole.
We Restore Fallen Members
“For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” At a certain summer camp, children are warned to swim on the “buddy system.” Years earlier, a camper had died simply from banging his head on the dock and going unconscious. Even though the water was only waist deep, there was no one to pull him to shore and prevent him from drowning. It was a senseless loss that could have been easily prevented by just one onlooker.
Every Christian stumbles from time to time. But the fall can be permanent if he lacks another concerned person to lift him up. Proverbs 17:17 says, “a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Take to heart Galatians 6:1, “if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
We Share in Our Warmth
“Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?” From time to time, a New England newspaper will report of a little boy who got lost in freezing weather, and survived the night only because his loyal puppy curled up on top of him.
It’s hard to go it alone in this dark, cold, dangerous world, where temptation is around every corner and discouragement over every rise. It ought to be a warm feeling to come home to our brethren! God intends the church to be a place where the family of God can find strength and comfort. “Greet the friends by name” (2 John 15) upon entering the assembly. Use the preaching and teaching to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). Outside of worship, eat “together with gladness and sincerity of heart” (Acts 2:46). Serve one another at all times, taking a cue from Dorcas, who “was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did” (Acts 9:36).
We Link Together for Defense
“And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Peter tells us that our “adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). In the wild, lions observe the flock from the high grass, looking for weak or distracted stragglers who have wandered away from the group. Not even the king of the jungle will attack a tough knot of wildebeest, horns facing outward and ready to defend each other.
The church must stand together in defense. In Phil. 1:12, Paul wanted to hear that the Christians in Philippi were “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, in no way alarmed by your opponents.” Like a braided rope, all the fibers must be bound in unity.
—John Guzzetta