2 are
better than 1 – 3 gets it done!
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Welcome
to National Back to Church Sunday. It is
to “Outreach Marketing” (A Christian Marketing firm) what Sweetest day was to
“Hallmark.” A clever way to sell cards
and make more money. I’m ok with
that. If that is what God used to bring
you here today, than I am glad for it.
Who
would have thought at the end of summer, the start of a new school year you
would find yourself sitting in a church – and a Baptist church at that. For those who may never have been here or to
any Baptist church, let me tell you we are the oldest church in Twin Falls – January
of 1905. We are an American Baptist
Church – NORTH/SOUTH split. Will it matter in heaven – I don’t think so. Does it matter now? Only in this, I know that American Baptist
hold to salvation through Jesus Christ alone, the authority of scripture alone,
the autonomy of the local church. I am
first and foremost a Jesus freak, a Christ follower, a Christian, but I am also
thankful to be a Baptist. That is good
background for this letter written years ago to Dear Abby.
B.C.
Stands for Baptist Church
Mrs. Clifton Hord of Baird, Texas relates a rather
strange reply to a request for a campground reservation. Mrs. Hord says that it
actually happened to one of her friends, but we’ll let you be the judge. Here’s
her story:
“My friend is a rather old-fashioned lady, always quite
delicate and elegant, especially in her language. She and her husband were
planning a weeks vacation in Florida, so she wrote to a particular campground
and asked for a reservation.
“She wanted to make sure the campground was fully
equipped, but didn’t quite know how to ask about the toilet facilities. She
just couldn’t bring herself to write the word “toilet” in her letter. After
much deliberation, she finally came up with the old-fashion term “bathroom
commode”. But when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being to
forward. So she started all over again, rewrote the entire letter, and referred
to the bathroom commode merely as B.C. “Does the campground have its own B.C?”
is what she actually wrote.
“Well the campground owner wasn’t old-fashion at all,
and when he got the letter, he just couldn’t figure out what the woman was
talking about.
After worrying about it for a while, he showed the
letter to several campers, but they couldn’t imagine what the lady meant. So
the campground owner, finally coming to the conclusion that the lady must be
asking about the location of the local Baptist Church, sat down and wrote the
following reply:
“Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering
your letter, but I now take the pleasure of informing you that a B.C. is
located nine miles north of the campground, and is capable of seating 250
people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit
of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great
number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually
arrive early and stay late.
“The last time
my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded that we had to
stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right
now there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They’re going
to hold it in the basement of the B.C.
“I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely no lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, particularly in the cold weather.
“If you do decide to come down to our campground,
perhaps I could go with you the first time you go, sit with you and introduce
you to all the other folks. Remember, this is a friendly community.”
Aren’t you glad you came to
a Baptist church today? I am very
glad. Because the scripture says: Ecclesiastes
4:9-12 Two
are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one
falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no
one to help him 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.
As he traveled and observed,
Solomon's experience with the independent man caused him to consider the
importance and value of people doing things together.
Two are certainly better
than one when it comes to working (v. 9) because two workers
can get more done. Also, it's much easier to do difficult jobs together because
one can be an encouragement to the other.
Two are better when it comes
to walking
(v. 10). Roads and paths in Israel were not paved or even leveled, and there
were many hidden rocks in the fields. It was not uncommon for even the most
experienced traveler to stumble and fall, perhaps break a bone, or even fall
into a hidden pit. Hoe great to have a friend who can help you up. But if this
applies to our physical falls, how much more does it apply to those times when
we stumble in our spiritual walk. How grateful we should be for Christian
friends.
Two
are better than one when it comes to warmth (v. 11). Two travelers
camping out, or even staying in the courtyard of a public inn, would feel the
cold of the Israeli night and need one another's warmth for comfort.
Finally, two are better than
one when it comes to their watchcare, especially at night (v.
12). "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves". It
was dangerous for anyone to travel alone, day or night; most people traveled in
groups for fellowship and for safety.
Solomon started with the
number one (v. 8), then moved to two (v. 9), and then closed with three (v.
12). One cord could be broken easily;
two cords would require more strength; but three cords woven together could not
be easily broken. If two travelers are better than one, then three would fare
even better.
Luke 10:1-3
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by
two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out
workers into his harvest field. Go! I am
sending you out like lambs among wolves.
WORKING ALONE
A letter to the insurance company
called “Doing the Job Alone”.
Dear
Sir,
I’m writing in response to your
request for additional information. In block 3 of the accident report form I
put trying to do the job alone as the cause of my accident. In your letter you
said I should explain more fully, and I trust the following details should be
sufficient.
I am a brick layer by trade and on the
date of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six story
building. When I had completed my work I had about 500 pounds of brick left
over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand or having someone to help me, I
decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was fortunately
attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.
Securing the rope to the ground level
I went to the roof, swung the barrel out, loaded the bricks into it and then I
went to the ground, untied the rope while holding the rope tightly to insure a
slow descent of 500 pounds. You will note in block 2 of the accident report
that I weighed 160 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so
suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless
to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the
vicinity of the 3rd floor I met the barrel coming down. This
explains the fractured skull and the broken collar bone.
Slowing down only slightly, I
continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until my hand was two knuckles deep
into the pulley. Fortunately, I regained my presence of mind and was able to
hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time,
however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the
barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed
approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block #2. As you
might imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the building. In
the vicinity of the 3rd floor I met the barrel coming up. This
accounts for my two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs. This
encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on
the pile of bricks.
I’m sorry to report, however, that as
I lay on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, watching the empty barrel six
stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The
empty barrel weighed more than the rope and so it came down and broke both of
my legs.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or
three come together in my name, there am I with them.
My Story of salvation
/ You are a sinner / Wage
for sin is eternal death / Faith in Jesus is Eternal Life (John 3:16)
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and
you will be saved Paul did not say, “Turn or
burn! Try or fry! Forsake or bake!” Instead he said, “Believe and receive!”
