Sneakers.

Have you ever tried to walk or run with just one of your sneakers or shoes? Or maybe you’ve been walking and your of slide ons or flip flops slid right off? It doesn’t end well. You walk to run or walk lopsided. Your bare foot always gets stickers or stubbed or scratch. And you overall look and feel ridiculous. It is because shoes come in pairs just like our feet. They can’t do their job correctly if we only wear one. Everything is off. But, when you got a good pair of sneakers, everything is smooth. You’re running or walking motions are exactly how they are supposed to be. You are able to benefit for having the pair of sneakers. What does one good sneaker do for you? Nothing. And in fact can often led to problems because of the unevenness it creates if your motion.

Solomon tells us that going through life is very similar. It is better to have a friend or partner. Two are better than one. Why? Because they lift each other up when one struggles. They balance each other out. They provide support and accountablitiy for each other.

Solomon even takes this idea a step further when he then pronounces a woe on the “solo shoe”! Woe to those who walk through life alone because no one is there to pick them up when they struggle!

What does this mean for us and our approach to life here on earth? It is pretty straight forward. We need each other. God made us and wants us to support each other. Adam was alone – that is why God made Eve.

I’m a loner. I enjoy my alone time and would much prefer to be at home with my dogs. I’m not good in crowds and don’t enjoy chitchat. But, I even have other sneaker. My husband provides me my support and accountability. I am blessed with a life partner that is my perfect match.

But, I’d like to make Solomon’s teaching here a little more difficult for us loners .

First, I need to have more than just one sneaker. I need have a closet of sneakers. Why? I should not rely on just one person for support and accountability. I shouldn’t just think to myself. I’ve got my one person. ✅. What it something happens to them? What if something happens to the relationship? We need more than just ONE!

Second, we’ve got to me the other sneaker for more than just one person. We’ve got to provide support, connection, and accountability more than just one person. To have friends and partners is to be a friend and partner.

So, ask yourself. Are you making your relationships complete? Are you serving as the matching shoe? Giving support and balance while also receiving support and balance? It is a pair – so our relationships. We’ve got to do our part.

Or, do you feel alone? Ask yourself are you being a friend to someone else? Are you giving to others what you expect to get yourself? If not, then there’s one of the answers to your loneliness. Relationships are pairs. They require TWO! Otherwise, if it’s just one shoe providing all the support eventually we throw the shoes out because the pair no longer works. And I can tell you as a runner – you never want to keep unbalanced shoes. They do more harm than good.

So – become the matching sneaker to your friends and partners! Complete the relationship. Solomon tells us those relationships provide us good rewards. But for those who try to go at this life alone, they will fail and no one is there it lift them up.