Two Are Better Than One, But Three is Better

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him who is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three fold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Thank God for my marriage! I have been married now for fifty-five years and I still marvel at this great plan designed by God. Fifty-five years is a long time to be married to the same woman–it is a miracle. Every day I thank God for Lorraine, I am so blessed.

I. Two are better than one
God created the world and all that was in it. “And God saw everything that he made, and, behold, it was very good” Genesis 1:31. Then God formed Adam in His own image out of the dust of the ground, breathed into him the breath of life; then looked at His special creation and said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” Genesis 2:18. God saw that two would be better than one.

God did not just duplicate Adam. God gave to him what he was not. He gave Adam a helper to complete him. That is why marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Men and women are not the same. The book Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus is very correct. Men and women do not think alike. They do not value the same things. It has been said that men are ‘doers’ and women are ‘be-ers’. Men get their self-esteem from what they accomplish, while women get their feeling of worth from their relationships. Truly, God made men to be providers and women to be mothers and homemakers. Much of the problem we are experiencing in marriage today is that we have not accepted the fact that we are not the same.

Both partners have different and unique strengths. This is why when one is vulnerable and falls due to a weakness, the other can lift him/her up. “Woe to him who is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to lift him up.”

II. Two gives victory from a sexual, perverted world
God created us as sexual beings. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” Genesis 1:28. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” Genesis 2:25.

God designed married couples so that they are sexually attracted to each other. First of all, this is for procreation, and secondly, God designed intercourse in order to keep the couple together by allowing them to meet each other’s sexual needs. God expects couples to sleep together–how nice and warm.

“If two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?” The physical attraction for each other keeps the couple close to each other; it allows the couple to dispel frustrations and tensions. If two enjoy each other in bed–they usually stay close, but when they allow discord to enter their union it shows itself in rigidity and separation in a cold bed. Elder Grisham once said about this situation, “Thank God for the big toe.”

We live in a sexual perverted world. This culture is obsessed with sex and the human body is flaunted everywhere. If a couple could not find release in the company of their partner, it would not be long before temptation and lust would destroy the union. Thank God for marriage.

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” Hebrews 13:4.

III. When Satan prevails against one, two shall withstand him
We are in a spiritual battle and sometimes it is hard to stand against the enemy of our soul alone. In a good marriage where Christ is at the center there can be two praying and encouraging each other. Make sure your main prayer partner is your marriage partner.

IV. Two is good–But three is better
“A thee fold cord is not easily broken.” Two in a good marriage is good–but if you put God in the equation–you have all you need to make it for fifty-five years, and beyond. Think of marriage as a triangle. Put the husband and wife at each of the bottom corners and God at the top. You then have the basis for the strongest geometric structure known to man. We use the triangle to build bridges and skyscrapers.

At one of my marriage seminars I took four small boards, drilled holes at each of their ends and connected them with bolts. It made for a very unstable rectangle. During the session I removed one board and bolted the remaining three together. The structure suddenly was now rigid and strong.

Two in a marriage is good but if you add Jesus and make a triangle with Him at the top and you both at the bottom, you have constructed a strong enduring structure.

By the way, the closer both of you get to God, the closer you get to each other. Try it!