Two not One

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 

(Amos 3:3, NKJV)

Whenever we find ourselves in the company of those that we agree with, there is a freedom and a camaraderie which gives us comfort.  A sense of belonging not only rejuvenates our hearts but also accords us a space to be the best versions of ourselves.  It is a beautiful place to find ourselves, where we are accepted and allowed to be who we are without feeling judged or inhibited.  Admittedly, there are other places we find ourselves in and we have to be on guard because we do not have the same acceptance accorded.  In such situations, we hold back any contribution we would have made almost like sabotaging ourselves or the larger whole.  The unfortunate result of not feeling welcome is that neither us nor others fully benefit from the presence of each other.  As much as it is in our ability, may we be advocates of acceptance and belonging of each other, that way, we all benefit from being in the company of others.

 Our reference verse is a question that we need to reflect on.  It encourages that we are in agreement with others if we desire to work together.  The verb ‘walk’ in this case suggests a journey of life, whether it is in achievement of a goal or a life time spent with another person.  It is a beautiful dance to watch when two individuals take the floor in step with each other.  Their movements are smooth and collaborative so that those watching get a sense that the individuals have simply allowed themselves to be led by their partner.  The dancing activity is not only enjoyable by those on the floor but also entertains the watching audience.  This is the beauty of an agreement which fits in well with unity of purpose.  We have the saying ‘unity is strength’ which calls us to leverage the skills, abilities and attributes of others for the greater good which is usually superior to the sum total of the individuals.  This is the opposite of when one goes alone, they might go faster but will not go as far as they would have done if they had accommodated others in their journey.  The bible gives us many references of the power of unity and agreement with others.  We are reminded that two are better than one as they receive a greater reward (Ecclesiastes 4:9), this talks of the power of working with others.  While this verse is normally seen in light of a marriage, it is also true in other situations where more people than one work together towards a common goal.  The unity of the two is demonstrated in the reminder that though one person may be overpowered, two people joining forces can withstand the opponent (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  This is a powerful picture to hold in our minds when we consider the need for unity with others.  The book of Matthew powerfully states if two people present to God an agreed request, the Father in heaven will answer them (Matthew 18:19).  Within the Christian circles, this is referred to as the prayer of agreement, where we are in total agreement with another person in presenting our request to God. Let us be reminded that it is in the place of unity that God commands a blessing (Psalm 133:1-3).

  Beloved, if our unity and agreement with others is so vital, one would wonder why we fail to work together.  As seen above, when operating alone, we are weaker and therefore limit the scale of achievement that we experience.  We might need to look at why on a personal we struggle to work with others.  Relationships are all about give and take, it weakens the bond that ties people together when one individual stands firmly on their position while failing to understand the views of the partner. The bible tells us that we have fights and strives amongst ourselves, emanating from our selfish desires (James 4:1).  This calls for personal reflection on what we might be holding in our hearts which hinders our ability to agree and to unite with others.  May we be known as those who see the good in others and reach out to them for the greater good.

Thoughts:

How comfortable are you in working with others?

 What prevents you from reaching unity with others?

 How can we encourage the unity of hearts in prayer?