Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 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 three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Every teacher knows May brings challenges to the classroom with warmer temperatures and the promise of summer drawing near. My students’ end-of-year behavior started early this year, and I knew our classroom couldn’t continue in its current state. We had a class meeting to discuss issues in our classroom, the next steps to take, and behavior expectations we could all agree upon.

The next day, the first student came into the classroom, sat in his seat, and did what he was supposed to do. Then, another one followed. And another. And another. By the time we were ready to start the day, every student sat in their seat quietly, doing what they were supposed to do. It was truly a miracle.

I don’t know each student’s motive for sitting quietly in their seat that day, but I like to think our class community came together for the greater good—thinking of each other and what we needed to make our class more successful. One student following expectations on his own would be difficult, but when the whole class did what was agreed upon, it became easier.

As a church community, we need each other. It’s a crazy, hectic world, and letting the world’s standards set the tone for our lives can leave us in a frantic mess. Let’s be honest—much of what the world holds dear contrasts sharply with what the Bible considers important. 

The world screams, “Be first. Be the best.” 

Jesus says, “The last will be first.” 

The world screams, “Be invincible. Hold it all together.” 

Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are burdened and weary.” 

The world screams, “Get more. Do more. Be more.” 

Jesus says, “But store up for yourself treasures in heaven.”

I’d rather follow Jesus than the world, but it’s not always easy, especially alone. We need community and other like-minded people who remind us what Jesus says. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The world may scream, but we have each other, and we have Jesus. Together, we are unshakeable.

Next Steps

Do you have a community of like-minded believers? If so, send them a note of encouragement today. If you’re looking for a group, The Willow Creek Group Finder can be a great place to start!