The Principle of Two: You and Who Else?

Day 157: The Principle of Two: You and Who Else?

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Thoughts for Today: Have you ever noticed that a lot of stuff comes in pairs: two hands, two feet, two eyes, two kidneys, two lungs, two front seats in a car or a plane (one for the pilot, the other for the co-pilot)? There have been many successful pairs of people: the explorers Lewis and Clark, and the actors Tracy and Hepburn to name a few. The Bible talks a lot about pairing up, here are a few examples: - The Lord told Noah in Genesis 6:19-20, "You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive." - Consider these words from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "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! " - Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:19, "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." - Then he demonstrates the "Principle of Two" in Mark 6:7, "...Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits..." - And again in Matthew 21:1, "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples..." There are literally hundreds of Biblical examples and instructions for us to pair up (Moses and Aaron, Abraham and Sarah, Barnabas and Saul, etc.) Why? I think the answer is in Ecclesiastes 4:10, "...pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! " We weren't made to do this life on our own. A number of years ago a high school friend of mine lost his thumbs in an industrial accident. I didn't realize the degree of his disability until he asked me to try something simple like buttoning my shirt without using my thumbs. It was virtually impossible. He then shared with me how much he loved his wife and his realization of how much she loved him as he came to depend on her for such simple things in life as buttoning his shirt. This is an example of the "Principle of Two" at work -- sometimes it takes the loss of something important to appreciate the value of a partner, in my friend's case, his wife. Questions to Ponder: Whose name is mentioned with yours? Who are you paired with? Who is your friend, mentor, protege, spouse, or partner? Do you treat that person with respect and value? What needs to change?