God's People Gather
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
My parents got a wedding gift with the last words of this verse. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” It’s one of those top 10 wedding verses. Two are better than one—husband and wife. A cord of three strands—God, husband, and wife.
But it’s one of those popular verses where the author wasn’t originally talking about marriage specifically. The author in this case was King Solomon. Wise King Solomon. Remember? God came to him when he was young and promised to give him anything he asked for. In humility, Solomon asked for wisdom. And God granted his request. Solomon became the wisest man to ever live.
And wise King Solomon recognized the problem of the lone wolf. In nature, wolves form packs. Sometimes, however, wolves break off from their pack and become a lone wolf. They don’t leave because they want to be alone. They’re looking to start their own pack. If the wolf stays a lone wolf, its chances of catching enough prey decrease, and it’s more likely to die young.
Like wolves, God created humans to be social. He created families as frameworks for society. The Bible encourages friendships. And yet we see more and more lone wolves out there.
The lone wolf isn’t just a single person. They’re a person with very few, if any, relationships at all. They may even like to go it alone.
But who does that person share their burdens with? Who do they share their joys with? Being a lone wolf is tough, much tougher than it is for someone who’s part of a family or a community.
What about being a lone wolf Christian? This is also different. A lone wolf Christian may have all kinds of relationships, just not Christian ones. They may even be married, perhaps even to another Christian. More on that in a moment. But what they don’t have is many Christian relationships or a Christian community.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.
What does a lone wolf Christian lack? They don’t have someone who calls them to repentance. How easy it is for anyone to read the Bible and think like the rich young ruler did, “All these I have kept since I was a boy.” There may be people in the lone wolf Christian’s life who’ll tell them they messed up. But they’ll only do so on the basis of their own standards, not God’s standards.
2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
A lone wolf Christian also lacks someone to point them to Christ. How easy it is for anyone to read the Bible and think, “None of these I have kept.” Despair creeps in. Yes, the Bible says you’re forgiven in Christ, but it’s so easy to skip those verses or think, “Those aren’t for me,” when you’re on your own. When you’re a lone wolf, it’s easy to interpret Scripture your way. You need fellow Christians to tell you, “Jesus’ forgiveness is for you.”
That person or those people who point you to Christ also point you to him in struggles. “Two are better than one. … A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” We can easily become blinded by our burdens. We can’t even see the cross. We need a Christian friend to come and through God’s Word open our eyes to see the glory of Jesus’ cross where he carried our burdens and crucified them.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
What about the lone wolf Christian family? A lone wolf pack. Is that an oxymoron? Even if both husband and wife, and their children, are Christians, there’s still something lacking. Two difficulties can emerge. Without a Christian community, the family may become an echo chamber. The devil, prowling like a lion, inserts a lie that gets echoed by husband, wife, son, and daughter. Without realizing it, the entire family falls further and further from the truth.
The other difficulty is when the family becomes divided. When husband and wife are at each other’s throats. When the kids are out of control. Who do you turn to? Turning to the world’s wisdom can’t solve every problem. Having a Christian community that always points to Christ, his cross, and his forgiveness, helps the family heal divides.
Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
This is why we gather. God brings us together around his Word and sacrament, not so we can see for ourselves how big his kingdom is. He brings us together so that he may feed our faith and so that we may encourage one another, building each other up in the gospel of Jesus for the glory of God.
We are celebrating a special God’s People Gather Sunday on Sunday, September 12. Services will be at 8 and 10:30 with a fellowship meal in between. Come, gather with us!