Three Strands

Have you ever spent time thinking about the strength of rope before? Chances are, probably not. Unless you were a mountain climber or in an industry that required some aerial rigging. The vast majority think one rope is as good as another. But the truth is that not all rope is equal. In fact, it’s been proven that a 3-stranded rope has 20% more load capacity than a 2-stranded rope. That percentage is increased even more over a single stranded piece of rope. The bottom line? The more strands help to disperse the weight that is being carried. The load is shared thereby making the rope stronger.

This really isn’t a new concept. King Solomon understood the depths of this as it applied to humanity and those who walk with God. Solomon wrote that 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… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12 NIV).

We all carry some kind of weight with us. Stress of the job. The worries of life. Pain. Suffering. Even heartbreak as we go through our daily lives. Many of us try to go through it alone. We think that no one really wants to hear about my issues. I’ll just put my head down and keep trudging through while carrying the weight of it all on my shoulders. But when we do that, it’s a sure fire way to collapse under the pressure. Sure we may make it for a little while, but eventually fatigue will set in and eventually collapse. Why, though? Because we weren’t meant to carry the weight alone. 

As believers, we aren’t left on some island by ourselves meant to figure it all out alone. We’ve been given something wonderful in our lives. Other believers. Fellow followers of Jesus who are there to help lift us up inside of a community of faith. It’s those relationships that will grow us, challenge, and hold us accountable as we move forward in faith. One can be overpowered easily. Two is better than one. Three strands of rope is not easily broken. Share the weight you carry with another believer this week. Lean on them. Grow with them. Walk with God together in the weeks to come.