Bible Passage: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9b NIV)
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Almost forty years ago, I worked in a lumber yard.
The normal shift started at 8 am, but I loved starting at 6 am because it allowed me to get a bunch of work done before everyone else showed up.
There were a couple of high school kids working at the yard as well, and when I worked with them, it seemed to make things more difficult; they would make mistakes that cost me more time.
My conclusion (my false conclusion) was that it was better for me to work alone than to work with others.
This is a false conclusion that many men can make.
A well-known proverb that speaks to this (often attributed to Aristotle, even though it is slightly misquoted) is, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
The obvious problem with those high school kids was that they didn’t really understand what they were doing.
The greater (and less obvious) problem was that I didn’t know how to draw the best out of them.
Imagine the work we could have accomplished had I known how to equip them to be their best.
I could have been better with them!
God has given us a perfect example of this in our own bodies. The parts of our bodies must work in unison for the whole body to thrive.
As I sit here and type these words, it would appear that my fingers are doing all the work. And yet, as I become more attentive, it is very obvious that my fingers aren’t working alone. My forearms and wrists are resting on the table and providing support. My eyes are constantly shifting back and forth between the keys and the screen. My legs and feet are planted firmly on the floor to give stability to my whole body. And there are a myriad of other parts of my body working together so that my fingers can hit the keys!
Whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not, we will always work better in community. You may be awesome, but God has gifted other awesome men to come alongside you and make what you do even greater.
Learning how to do it together is part of growing up as a man and is worth the investment.
Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me for thinking that I can do everything better by myself. I struggle with pride, and I need Your grace to help me win that battle. Free me from the trap of thinking that I am better on my own. Show me the value of every man I come across, whether it is a neighbor, a son, a parent, a co-worker, or a teammate. They are not in my life by accident. Help me to see them with Your eyes. Amen.
Reflection: Who in your life do you need to acknowledge with more gratefulness? Who do you need to trust more to come alongside you and work together with you?
Copyright © 2026 Impactus. All rights reserved.
About
