- “Then, with Micah’s idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground.
- THERE WAS NO ONE TO RESCUE THE PEOPLE, FOR THEY LIVED A GREAT DISTANCE FROM SIDON AND HAD NO ALLIES NEARBY. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob.”
Judges 18:27,28 (NLT)
• The people of Laish were peaceful and secure but they had no ties with anyone.
THERE was no one to rescue them when they were invaded by the men of Dan—they attacked them with swords and burned the city with fire.
- Human beings are relational beings. GOD does not want us to leave without others.
- “TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE, because they have a good reward for their labour.
- For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. BUT WOE TO HIM WHO IS ALONE WHEN HE FALLS, FOR HE HAS NO ONE TO HELP HIM UP.
- Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
- THOUGH ONE MAY BE OVERPOWERED BY ANOTHER, TWO CAN WITHSTAND HIM. AND A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)
- The people of Laish were easily defeated by a handful of men of the tribe of Dan, because they did not have allies, they lived a great distance from Sidon.
- The above Bible passage says two are better than one, if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
ONE person can easily be overpowered, but two can withstand any opposition (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10). - It also says two people can keep warm, but one person cannot be warmed alone (Ecclesiastes 4:11)
• God wants every believer to belong to a family, a local church or fellowship.
- “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
- NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24,25 (NKJV)
- You have to know your Church family, and be part of what they do there.
YOU should not be a rolling stone Christian who has no responsibility. - God wants you to be committed to your local Church, be responsible, and join hands with others to build the work (Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 2:19).
- When you belong to a Church family, it will benefit you both spiritually and physically.
YOU spiritual life would be developed, enhanced, and your gifts would find expression. - Also, you stand to benefit from it physically: when you need someone or people to stand by you in difficult situations, the church would be there to offer help.
- A believer may be forlorn, distressed, or bereaved, such would need other people to stand by him or her, the Church family would be there to be of help at such a time (Acts 2:44-46; 4:32-37; 12:5).
- You should treasure every good relationship, God ordained ones, which you find yourself in.
- Every God ordained relationship has something to add to your life.
WHERE you are today is through relationships, and where you will be tomorrow would be through relationships; thus you should treasure God ordained relationships in your life. - Some relationships are vital to your progress and promotion, and if you despised such relationships, you may become stagnated for a long time, that no significant progress is made by you.
- God orchestrated the relationship of David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:17).
- Some people’s progress are truncated because they do not value the relationships God ordained to bless them.
- Some have died prematurely because they despised the relationship ordained by God to stand by them in the time of distress.
- Every relationship ordained by God in your life should be valued and treasured—that you may reach your destination.
• Having said that, a believer should be circumspect or cautious in cultivating relationships with the heathens or unbelievers.
- As good as it is to have allies and to relate with others, you must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, as you cultivate friendships with others (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
- “Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”
- “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:17,18 (NKJV)
- As a believer who operates under God’s covenant, you cannot afford to ally with someone who operates with another covenant that is contrary to yours.
- If you partner in business or whatever with someone who operates with a strange or demonic covenant, God will not be able to move, bless you as He wants.
• Believers live, work, operate, and do things with the principles of the Word of God, the Bible; If you, a believer, is yoked, or allied with a heathen who is fetish or diabolical, God would not be able to work, because if He does, the glory of whatever He does would be shared or given to another god.
"I AM THE LORD, that is My name; AND MY GLORY I WILL NOT GIVE TO ANOTHER, nor My praise to carved images."
Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV)
- There is no agreement between light and darkness.
YOUR alliance with the heathens will pollute and truncate the flow of God’s blessings in your life or whatever (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). - If you are in the business partnership with an unbeliever who does not believe in the principles of the Bible, God would not be free enough to operate in the business.
• Carefully choose the people you relate with, and that by the leading of the Holy Spirit who resides on the inside of you as a believer: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons [daughters] of God" (Romans 8:14).
- Be identified with a Church family, God does not want you to forsake the gathering, fellowship of the people of God (Hebrews 10:25).
- Do not despise, treat with contempt, any relationship ordained in your life by God, there is a purpose for it; it is cardinal, having other things based on it: your progress, lifting, success, safety, fulfilment of purpose, or what have you.
- As you identify with a Church family, submit to the authority of the Church and do not rebel (Hebrews 13:17).
- Live your life in line with the principles of the Bible, the Word of God; as you do that, you shut the enemy, the devil, out of your life.
- Living contrary to the Word of God gives an opportunity to the devil in a believer’s life: "And do not give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:27).
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!