A three-fold cord
(A wedding address)
Unity is strength
Once there was a Bedouin sheikh who had ten sons. They were always quarreling and thus making the family very vulnerable to attack by enemies. The sheikh called together his ten sons and held up a bundle of sticks saying, “This is a test of strength. Which one of you can snap this bundle in two”. One by one the brothers came forward and tried, but not one of them could break the bundle, however had he tried.
“Untie the bundle!” ordered the father. Then, handing one stick to each son, he said, “Now break the sticks!” Each son broke his stick with ease. “You see,” said the father, “each of these sticks represents one of you, my sons. When you are bound together in love and harmony no enemy can break you. When you are quarreling, you are easily overcome by the enemy. Strength lies in unity”.
And that’s true of marriage also, isn’t it? If a husband and wife are united in purpose and in love then they can face all that life throws at them. There are many enemies of marriage today – not least our hedonistic society which does not believe in putting up with difficulties. But if you are united in love and harmony you will overcome all difficulties.
Three strands
Here are some ancient words of wisdom from the Bible:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up! ……. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Eccles 4: 9,10,12)
I’m not really sure what the writer meant by that – perhaps he was just saying “unity is strength”. But for you, in your marriage, I would say, the third strand in the cord should be God – your relationship with him.
As a married couple you are a two-fold cord – much stronger than a single strand. With God in your lives it becomes a three-fold cord - even stronger, not easily broken.
As Christians we believe that God can give purpose to our lives. He loved us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross, and to rise from the dead, for us. We all need to invite Jesus into our lives and to seek to follow his ways. Then we will know the true meaning and blessedness of life.
