“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
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.” ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

In the first line of these verses, I picture two people working side-by-side. I know people who prefer to work by themselves, but I expect the majority would much rather have someone to talk to and work alongside to make the time go faster and get the job done more quickly.

Reading the second line, you might think of two people taking a walk. One stumbles, and the other reaches out to steady him or her. So it is in our Christian walk.

You may have seen the Peanuts comic years ago where Linus says, “I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.” If we could get through life without other people, we might have a lot less stress, but we would also be lonely.

Talking to people since COVID hit a couple of years ago, I have seen two reactions: Those who decided it was kinda nice having an excuse to stay home and not see anyone, and those who were going crazy due to not being around others. Although I can relate to the former, the attitude of the second group more closely resembles how Christ desires us to respond (minus the crazy part).

I agree that too many people are too busy. It is important to take time to be still and know that He is God, to spend quality time alone with the Lord and with your family. But God also created us to be a part of a Body, not a detached limb sitting alone in a room somewhere. You see, if we don’t have others in our life to encourage, exhort, and even rebuke us at times, we might begin to stray from the straight and narrow path and not even realize it.

Scripture tells us people that we are to stay away from, but that doesn’t include everyone that we disagree with on minor issues. I’m thankful to know people from a variety of denominations and walks of life since I believe that helps to keep me balanced and challenged.

If you find yourself alone due to choices you have made, I encourage you to rethink those choices. Ask God where you can find a community of Believers who will encourage you to become more like Jesus and where you can encourage others as well. I believe that you will be glad you did.