A Magnetic Faith

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3

There is an old saying, “Opposites attract,” and that is true to a certain extent.  Weaknesses are paired with strengths for an acceptable outcome.  People have different talents and abilities and when paired with those of different talents and abilities, much more can be accomplished.  This reminds me of when my husband and I were on a bowling league years ago.  The couple that we teamed up with were fairly good bowlers, but we were pretty lousy, not really bad, but not really great.  However, our lack of bowling skills gave our team a big handicap, and we ended up winning the first place trophy that season.

People are drawn to others who are different out of curiosity, intrigue, or admiration.  Of course there are folks who don’t like to associate with people who might be a little different in color, ethnicity, culture, or faith, but it is good to get to know people and learn about them.  We might just find a good friend in them.  If we were all alike, it would be a rather boring world.  We wouldn’t need others that much if we were all the same.  People complement one another.

In I Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul wrote about the diversities in gifts that God gives to people to use for His glory.  He compares the different gifts to the human body.  He wrote that if the whole body was an eye, then how could one hear or smell?  He went on to say that God appropriates to every person his place in the body of Christ.  However, on the other hand, opposites don’t always serve a beneficial purpose.  There are certain truths, attitudes, and beliefs of which folks, particularly married couples, should be on the same page.  Obviously they should agree about the major aspects of living:  home, money, and rearing children, to name a few.  Most significant is their faith and belief in God.  Paul warned in II Corinthians 6:14 for believers to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.  He is saying that it is vital, particularly in marriage, to be of the same mind when it comes to faith.

Paul also wrote that if one spouse was a believer, and the other was not, hopefully the believer would live in such a way, that is, have a magnetic faith, that the unbeliever would be drawn to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 7:13-16).  We can agree to disagree on many matters, but a lot of struggles can be avoided if we share the same faith and belief in Jesus Christ.  “A three-stranded cord is not quickly broken” (paraphrased-Ecclesiastes 4:12b).