Help, I need somebody

The Beatles used to sing a song that had a great line in it, "help, I need somebody."

We all have times when we "need somebody" in our lives.

There's a story about a young boy selling pencils door-to-door in his neighborhood for a nickel apiece. One prospective buyer asked him what he planned to do with the money.

He said, "I'm trying to raise a million dollars to help build a new hospital."

The buyer said, "That's a big job for just one boy, isn't it?"

"It's not so hard," said the boy. "I've got a friend helping me."

I love that story!

It's amazing how much smaller even the biggest tasks become when you've got someone beside you. Too many times we tackle challenges alone and try to solve problems on our own -- and ultimately we learn that working this way makes us vulnerable to discouragement and defeat.

Whatever we do in life, we can't do it alone. It takes two, at least. We all need someone to help us get the job done.

I challenge you this week to consider a couple of things.

First. Take a minute to identify your support group. In each situation, think about their role and your role, how you complement one another, and how you can build on one another's strengths. Make it a point this week to focus on what's right in the relationship, not what's wrong.

Second. In the areas where you struggle -- personal, spiritual, career, ministry -- ask yourself, "Who can I bring in to help me make this better?" Whatever you're trying to accomplish, having a team member can get you there faster.

Solomon talked about this idea in Ecclesiastes. He talks about how futile it is to work alone. He reminds us, "Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor." (Ecclesiastes 3:9)

More importantly, Solomon reminds us that working with a team helps us bounce back more quickly from defeat.

"If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble." (Ecclesiastes 3:10)

Solomon finishes this thought by saying, "Two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 3:12)

Do you want to put your life in overdrive? Rely upon someone around you. Or two or three. See how much more quickly you move down the road of accomplishment.