Not Easily Broken

"Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, 

And a three-fold cord is not easily broken." 

Imagine yourself suspended, a thousand feet up, on the face of El Capitan, a single-strand rope your only lifeline, and the rope you've chosen is rubbing against the sharp edge of the rock and is beginning to fray...

This story will not end well.

No one in their right mind would embark on such a climb with a single-strand rope.  To do so would be utter foolishness. 

Wise, experienced climbers use abrasion-resistant, multi-strand climbing ropes, and they carefully inspect their ropes before each climb.

It's a matter of life or death.

Now, think of the analogy of the strength of a multi-strand rope in the context of friendships, family and marriage.

We were not meant to go it alone in this life.

Marriage for the Christian was never meant to be merely a two-strand cord. It would never stay together with only two strands.  No, marriage must be a three-fold cord—husband and wife braided and bound together with the Love, Spirit and Person of Jesus Christ.

What's fascinating about this analogy of a three-fold marriage, is the writer of Ecclesiastes does not say the three-fold cord is impossible to break.  He says it is not easily broken.

It can be broken if we let it.

We can break the three-fold cord by our selfishness. 

Husbands, if we go off and do our own thing, pleasing ourselves, and neglecting our wives, the three-fold cord will eventually break.  No, it won't instantly snap. But over time, just as the climbers rope begins to fray from the abrasion of rubbing against the sharp rocks, so too will our relationship with our wives begin to fray and weaken from the sharpness of our bad attitudes, harsh words, and neglect.  And unfortunately, once that marriage cord has been severed, more often than not, it ends up being beyond repair.

In the context of friendships, true friends are bound together by a shared love for Christ, as well as a common respect and affection for one another.  Good friends share common interests.  We look out for each other.  We encourage each other when the other is down.  We lend a hand to help without being asked when a friend is in need.  Friends don't allow themselves to become divided over trivial issues or get in disputes over superficial things.  Friends give each other the benefit of the doubt and extend grace to each other. We forgive one another. We are there for each other.  We always have each other's back.  We would literally take a bullet for one another.

Since my wife is also my best friend, this doubly applies to my marriage.

Now think of the three-fold cord in the context of family—particularly for us men and the relationships we have with our sons, and with our fathers.

Fathers, what kind of example are you setting for your sons?   How do you treat their mother?  What is your conversation with your buddies like when you are standing around the barbecue and your sons are listening? What do your children hear you say about your job or your boss? 

Does your son see you honoring your own father by visiting him regularly in the nursing home he is living in?

Grampas, do you take your son and grandsons fishing?  Do you continue to instill wisdom into them?

The three-fold cord of father, son and grandson is a powerful force when you are bound together in the love and selflessness of Christ.  But today, many guys are off doing their own thing, and there is no three-fold cord relationship between the three generations.

The Apostle Paul wrote that in the last days perilous times shall come.

May we all today, examine ourselves and see if we are truly in the faith.  Are we loving sacrificially, dying to self?

Or are we being the kind of men that Paul writes of in 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power."

Grand Fathers, dads and sons... if Jesus were to return right now, what kind of men would He find us to be today?

Would He find men who are truly in the faith?

Jesus said,

"There is no greater love than this—that a man would lay down his life for his friends."

May we as sons bring honor to our Father in Heaven, by loving Him, and loving people, laying down our lives for others.

This is what it means to be a real man.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.