We need connection with others
Daily Scripture
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Genesis 2:18
Ecclesiastes 4
7 Next, I saw under the sun something else that was pointless: 8 There are people who are utterly alone, with no companions, not even a child or a sibling. Yet they work hard without end, never satisfied with their wealth. So for whom am I working so hard and depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is pointless and a terrible obsession.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. 10 If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? 12 Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.
Genesis 2
18 Then the Lord God said, “It’s not good that the human is alone. I will make him a helper that is perfect for him.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Genesis 2 stated a human truth: it isn’t ideal for any of us to be all alone. Ecclesiastes 4 expanded on that simple statement, describing the tragedy of great wealth with no human connections as a “terrible obsession.” It showed the antidote for that with down-to-earth images of helping someone up after falling, staying warm on a cold night and weaving a three-ply cord. That’s a basic reason why God called people (not one isolated individual) to follow God: doing it together fills a basic human need.
- The wisdom teacher of Ecclesiastes, sometimes seen as bitterly cynical, valued the warmth of human friendship. “Two are better than one,” he wrote. They “can help each other, can keep each other warm and safe.” * He added that “a three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap,” which “may imply that three companions are even better than two.” * In what ways have you found strength in facing life with a trusted, supportive group, rather than all alone?
- If we pay attention (it can be hard), mission partners in Africa highlight the tragedy of over 100 million orphans and helpless children due to the AIDS epidemic. In Bible times, “orphans are used to depict loss, vulnerability and social disruption…. the plight of the widow and orphan often occur in tandem in the Scriptures.” ** One key New Testament image for God’s people was “family” (e.g. Romans 12:10). Click here to learn about the ways Resurrection fosters human connections.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for keeping your promise not to leave me as an orphan. Teach me how to claim you as my Companion and Comforter and join with others in your family to help each other on our spiritual journeys. Amen.
GPS Insights
Valerie Nagel
Valerie Nagel serves as a Connection and Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood. She was born, raised, and attended college in California. Her Master of Divinity degree is from Duke Divinity School. She began serving as an associate pastor in the Rio Texas Conference in 2011 in the Austin area and San Antonio. From congregational care and welcoming guests to leading in worship, Valerie loves the ministry of the local church. She juggles ministry with being a mom to Caleb (born 2012) and Jacob (born 2015), friend, avid reader, lover of the outdoors, beginner to the world of CrossFit, and foodie.
We need connection with others.
Most days I feel okay with the fact that we need connection with others. I love being a pastor and spending time with people. Sometimes, though, it feels painful for me to know that I am created for community. While I’m an introvert and I like being strong and independent, the reason I don’t like needing other people is because it feels vulnerable. My need for love from family and friends and care from acquaintances and even strangers feels like it asks too much of me. I don’t want to be that needy, raw, and exposed. And when I’m lonely it feels heartbreaking. It feels like an ache gnawing at me from the inside out. Sometimes I want to numb or silence my longing for connection with others.
What has helped me over the years when I feel socially awkward, alone, or in need of deeper connection is to move towards others. When I face my fears and put myself in a place where I can build healthy relationships, I find myself receiving the care I need and that I was made for. I also find that my unique gifts can be a blessing for others. When I’m aware that I want to welcome others as they are then I am in a better place to give myself compassion and grace. When I remember how amazing it is to be in the presence of other people, getting to know their gifts, and hearing their stories, I can remember that they want to know me, too.
One of the places where I have felt safe enough to be honest with myself, God, and others is in a small group. If I want to receive the blessings of the group then I must show up authentically, honestly, and with a lot of patience. Building trust takes time. Being known and knowing others doesn’t happen at the first small group meeting. But with time I have found connections that have helped me survive difficult seasons, draw closer to God, and pursue my passions in a way that helped me feel alive and experience God’s abundance. I know that joining a small group can feel uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. Relationships are never perfect and we all need healthy boundaries. But I am so grateful for Pastor Scott’s sermon that reminded me of the joy of being with others.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Brent A. Strawn, study notes on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 1061 OT.
** Article “Orphan” in Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman III, general editors, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998, p. 615.
