Topic: A THREEFOLD CORD
THEME SCRIPTURE:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)
[9] Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
[10] 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.
[11] Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
[12]Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
MESSAGE:
Our theme Scripture gives us a picture of how interdependence works. It is a reference to the power of interdependence, and since the marriage covenant is a covenant of interdependence, it can appropriately be applied to the marital relationship.
Two are better than one! In other words, interdependence is better than independence. However, with all the beautiful pictures our theme Scripture gives about what two can achieve together, it ended by saying, “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
A threefold cord is a cord of three strands. But I thought the Scripture was talking about two better than one; where from the three? Have you thought about that? I believe what God is pointing out to us is that, in as much as two are better than one, until God is involved with the two, or better still, until the two involve God in all their endeavours, what a single individual would achieve, may be greater than what a couple would achieve. In other words, the marriage covenant will not work if you do not involve God.
Remember, marriage was instituted by God Himself. How can you operate the marriage covenant without making reference to the manual of the One who instituted it? How can any marriage be successful without following God’s plan and directives for the marriage institution? Every successful institution has its code of conduct. Likewise, the marriage institution has its code of conduct enshrined in the Bible. Once you engage God’s help to operate the marriage covenant, you have introduced the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last; the Beginning and the End.
God + You + Your Spouse = a threefold cord. And a threefold cord cannot be quickly broken.