My grandfather who was a preacher told his 11 children that a single branch off a tree may be easily broken. But the more branches that one puts together, the harder it will be for him/her to break them. I then heard the story through my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Afterwards, I heard and seen the same story told in various movies and TV programs. I wondered where the initial saying originated. In reading the Bible I came across Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 which states,
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless— a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
In examining the scripture, I noticed five examples are being given; A man without a son or brother, two people working together towards common goals, two people keeping each other warm when lying down, two defending themselves, and a cord of three stands being hard to break. Each example with the exception of the first speaks on having a common goal. The first example is unknown as to whether or not the brother or son may have the same goal as the man. Therefore, in my understanding the scripture is stating the two or more people who are working, has to work together towards a common goal in order for there to be a benefit. If two are together yet working towards uncommon goals and are not helping each of with their individual goals where is the benefit?
Here is a story called The Mouse Trap.
The Mouse Trap
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. “What food might this contain?” the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”
The mouse turned to the pig and told him “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The pig sympathized, but said “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.”
The mouse turned to the cow and said “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The cow said “Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient. But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer’s wife did not get well; she died. So many! people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry
Christians are supposed to be taught to love one another which includes enemies. Christians are also taught that we should encourage and strengthen one another through faith, actions and love. Matthew 18:19-20 states,
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Working together towards a common goal, as stated by scripture is better than working towards that goal alone. Therefore, let us help one another towards the common goal to gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. The goal to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Reference Philippians 3:8-12)
