7-11-2024
John Maxwell tells a story about a young boy selling pencils door-to-door in his neighborhood for a nickel apiece. One prospective buyer asked him what he planned to do with the money.
He said, “I’m trying to raise a million dollars to help build a new hospital.”
The buyer said, “That’s a big job for just one boy, isn’t it?”
“It’s not so hard,” the boy said. “I’ve got a friend helping me.”
It’s amazing how much smaller even the biggest tasks become when you’ve got someone beside you. Too many times we tackle challenges alone and try to solve problems on our own – and ultimately we learn that working this way makes us vulnerable to discouragement and defeat.
As you well know, this world we live in and this life we live can become quite complicated at times. That’s why you would do well to have someone alongside you on the journey – someone to help you get the job done.
I challenge you to consider a few things.
• Take a minute to identify your partners. In each project, think about their role and your role, how you complement one another, and how you can build on one another’s strengths. Make it a point to focus on what’s right in the relationship, not what’s wrong.
• Take on a partner. In the areas where you struggle – personal, spiritual, career – ask yourself, “Who can I bring in to help me make this better?” Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, having a team member can get you there faster.
• Lend a hand. Is there someone you know in the midst of a massive pencil selling campaign? Maybe you can pitch in long enough to help them bring their project to the finish line.
Israel’s king Solomon talked about this idea in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. He talks about how futile it is to work alone. He reminds us…
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
More importantly, Solomon reminds us that working with a team helps one bounce back more quickly from defeat.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
Solomon finishes this thought by saying…
Two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
One of the things we say at LifePoint Church all the time is this: Following Jesus will make your life better, and it will make you better at life. And it will. So will bringing someone alongside on this journey we call life. As you do, you’ll see how much more quickly you move down the road of accomplishment.