A few years back, I had the blessing of attending 3 weddings – 2 in the usual way, and one by tuning in to a special broadcast over the internet. I noted that all 3 services had some similarities, but some differences. This may have had something to do with the fact that while one couple are both Christians who seek to put Jesus at the centre of their lives, the other 2 couples don’t profess any faith that I’m aware of.
So what were the similarities? Well, of course they all made vows, and there was the usual hymn singing. Also, 1Corrinthians 13, often called the Love chapter, was read at all 3 weddings. However, at the wedding where the couple sought to honour the Lord above all else, there was another reading, and perhaps it may have come as a surprise to some.
it came from Ecclesiastes chapter 4, and talks about the advantage of 2, as opposed to one. This got me thinking about the number 2. It says:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them 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 3 strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4, 9-12.)
When we marry, a single person suddenly becomes a half of a whole new being. Biblically, we understand that after marriage, a man and woman are joined in the spiritual realm, and become one in the eyes of God. However, in a Christian marriage, we truly are becoming a part of a cord of 3 strands, with the third strand being the Lord. He is the central strand who will hold bride and groom together through the tough times as well as the good.
So, are verses such as those we’ve read from Ecclesiastes only appropriate for marriage and couples? My answer would have to be a firm ‘No’. There are so many wonderful ways in which two can be better than one. How many times have we all been in a situation where we have leant upon the advice of a trusted friend? How many times have we needed a shoulder to cry on? Isn’t there, for most of us, one other person to whom we can turn and share our innermost thoughts and feelings, even if we are not blessed with a husband or wife?
I believe companionship is very important to the Lord. My heart breaks for anyone reading this who is lonely, and feels they have no one to turn to. I pray the Lord will bring a close friend into your life. My closest friends are such a blessing, and I still share with them, despite the fact that I am happily married.
If you are a single person, and you read passages like the one highlighted from Ecclesiastes, please don’t discount it as irrelevant for you, and move on to something else. The Christian life is all about sharing, and maybe you’re just the person someone needs right now. Perhaps in meeting that need for another, you will also have your own needs met. We have all heard the phrase “No man is an island,” so don’t run away from the relationships God wants to bring into your life today, and don’t forget that the best and most valuable relationship of all is the one we share with our Saviour. That doesn’t change whether we’re married or single.