Rev. David Holwick G Fifty Day Adventure
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 3, 1996
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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I. People need other people.
A. Modern life leads to isolation.
1) More and more people, but less and less meaningful contact.
a) Seventy percent of Americans have many acquaintances
but few close friends.
b) Dating at movies - eases tension of having to say
something.
c) TV just as bad. We share experiences with make-believe
people.
2) Dangers of isolation: depression and loneliness.
B. Why are we so isolated?
1) Do we move too much, break off normal relationships?
2) More likely: exposing our inner selves frightens us.
a) Cuts against "rugged individualism."
b) In spiritual relationships, relying on someone else
undercuts our direct dependence on God.
C. If you were in trouble, is there a Christian you could trust?
1) Who are you accountable to?
2) Who brings out the best in you? Spiritually?
3) Relationships are better than accomplishments.
II. God made us to need each other. Gen 2:18
A. Not just true of families - also true of Christians.
1) Show me an isolated Christian, and I'll show you someone
who is going to wither.
2) Even faithfully following a Spiritual Adventure is not
enough!
B. Advice from the Bible. Eccl 4:9-12
1) Eccl 4: 9 - with others we can accomplish more. [synergy]
2) Eccl 4:10 - we have someone to help us when we're down.
3) Eccl 4:11 - there is comfort in companionship.
4) Eccl 4:12 - there is more strength in numbers.
The Gilded Age, a time when a few individuals amassed tremendous
fortunes, was powered by a great industrial surge.
This created a huge demand for metals like zinc, tin, copper,
and lead.
No one was more successful at making money from metals than the
Guggenheims.
They were a family of Jewish immigrants from Aargau in
German-speaking Switzerland.
By 1914 the family controlled 75-80 percent of the world's silver,
copper and lead, and could fix output and prices at will.
When his boys were young, Meyer Guggenheim assembled them and
gave each a stick to break.
He then put together seven sticks that nobody could even bend,
emphasizing that individually each was fragile but together
they were invincible.
#3182
C. A long history among believers.
1) Jesus and 12 disciples.
2) Paul and Timothy.
3) Billy Graham and his team.
D. Different styles.
1) Mentor - experienced believer takes on young one.
2) Friend - co-equals.
III. What a spiritual friend can do. #3548
A. Friends can lead to significant spiritual growth for us.
1) We learn by the example of others.
2) We gain new insight or courage.
B. We can expect to find immense support simply from another's
presence.
C. A close spiritual friend can help us make sense of everyday life.
D. They help us ground our spiritual life in something more solid
than our own feelings.
1) They can point out our spiritual blind spots.
2) They can remind us of our priorities.
3) When depressed, they can remind us we are cherished by God.
IV. How to be a spiritual friend.
A. Listen, and encourage honest sharing.
B. Create a climate of encouragement.
1) Unjudging and unshakable.
2) As "Maze" says, learn to care about others.
C. Focus us on Christ and Christlikeness.
1) Focus is not on personality, but on coming to know God better.
2) Do your relationships have an eternal focus?
V. When in doubt, pray.
A. Prayer is a strong glue for relationships.
1) Bonding in men's Bible study.
2) Prayer triplets.
3) But hard to get over our shyness.
B. Share your concerns with one another, and take them to the Lord.
C. Every relationship needs three strands - 2 or more and God.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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