You need others

Fri, 19 May 2023

‘Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.’ Ecclesiastes 4:12

As much as we would like to think that we know it all, if we’re honest, each of us is painfully aware that we have blind spots and areas of inexperience. You have had experiences others haven’t had; they have had experiences you haven’t had, and when you get together, you harness your collective experience and knowledge. Jesus sent the seventy disciples out in groups of two. Why? 1) For support. ‘Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV) 2) For enlightenment. Playwright Ben Jonson said, ‘He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.’ 3) For accountability. The pastor of a megachurch introduced the man who travelled with him to his audience, saying, ‘I am vulnerable to temptation, and he is my safeguard.’ You could have heard a pin drop in the crowd! Sometimes you need comfort, and other times you need correction. It takes humility to acknowledge that and emotional security to put it in place. Until you realise that others can help you live a fuller and better life than you could live on your own, you’re tying your own hands and limiting your potential. As long as your goal is to get ahead of others rather than work with them, your future will be short-changed. Good thinkers comprehend the power of shared thinking. They understand that when they treasure the thoughts and ideas of others, they receive the compounding results of shared thinking and achieve more than they ever could on their own. The truth is, you need others.