Page 20 - October 2026 - Truth & Tidings

benefit of friendships, but also the dan- How will our fire burn brighter if we aren’t
ger of being found without them. If we catching spiritual sparks from others? “As
have isolated ourselves, if we haven’t iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the
sought out meaningful and deep (think countenance of his friend” (Pro 27:17).
“not digital”) friendships, who will help Having no friends means there will be no
us when we fall down? “But woe to him one there to warm us up spiritually when
who is alone when he falls, for he has no things grow cold.
one to help him up” (v10). No friends
means no help to be found when we fall, No Friends Means There Is No
no hand extended out to us. Woe to that One to Stand Beside You
person, Solomon says. There is nothing
but further hurt and despair. The cry of One who prefers isolation may say,
a man who needed a helping hand for 38 “All I need is the Lord!” And while there
years was this, “Sir, I have no man to put is truth to that statement, it was the only
me into the pool when the water is stirred wise God who looked over His creation
up” (Joh 5:7). The paralyzed man would and said, “It is not good that man should
have given anything for a helping hand, be alone” (Gen 2:18). Two are better than
but yet none could be found. Having no one. Even though he had the Lord with
friends means having no one to pick you him, Moses needed Aaron to help hold
up when you are down. up his arms when he got tired. David

No Friends Means There Is No grew faint and needed Abisai to help slay
another giant. “Though one may be over-
One to Ignite You powered by another, two can withstand
How often in the Christian walk can a him” (Ecc 4:12). Many times we need
believer become cold or, worse yet, luke- someone to stand beside us to overcome
warm? Just like the Laodiceans, we think the enemy. Accountability, correction and
we have need of nothing and become counsel are needed in our lives as the
complacent, ritualistic and religious in our devil looks to overpower and devour us.
Christian lives. If we isolate ourselves, if If we are alone, if we isolate, if we only
we don’t develop any meaningful friend- rely on digital friendships, we may be
ships, where and by whom will we be overpowered. But if we face the struggle
challenged to have some genuine fire for together with another, with a faithful
the Lord? Just as bodily warmth is essen- friend, we can withstand. A single strand
tial for survival in times of hypothermia,
so too is spiritual warmth necessary from may break, but the threefold cord is that
others when our fire is dwindling down much stronger. No friends means there is
to a few embers. “Again, if two lie down no one to stand shoulder to shoulder with
together, they will keep warm; but how us to face the enemy. May we take heed to
can one be warm alone?” (Ecc 4:11). If the warnings of Scripture with regards to
we are always alone, relying on a digital the dangers of isolating ourselves. We can
thumbs up from time to time as our only find strength in our lives and escape the
source of friendship and connection, how dangers of isolation by having even just
can we ever become pushed through luke- one or two strong, dependable friend-
warmness towards the things of the Lord? ships in our life.

308 TRUTH kTidings October 2026