PASTOR'S CORNER

Two are better than one
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Have you discovered yet that you are incomplete by yourself? Well, during my "teenage years" you would have been hard-pressed to convince me that I needed anyone else. I was at the stage where I thought I had all, knew it all, and could handle it all. I know few people willing to admit their needs for others, but many who live according to this principle. However, sooner or later they discover the truth regarding their need for others.
   God made us to need others. You have heard me quote this African proverb many times in writing or verbally - and that is: Umatu Ngumutu, Ugabantu. "A person is a person because of another person." Sometimes we may not discover this until we fail; fail in business , a marriage, a close friendship, a client relationship, etc. We are incomplete without the ongoing input from others into our lives.
   I am very proud to say that I am who I am today because of godly influences of people I met on my faith journey. I also believe without any doubt, that God strategically placed certain women and men of God on my path to teach, help, and shape my faith in God and ministry. I think an independent spirit is one of the most detestable sins from God's viewpoint. It is the highest form of pride. "Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." (Prov. 13:10).
   God has made each of us so that we have only so many gifts. He did not give any of us all the available gifts. Hence, we learn to depend on others and to humbly trust others to complement us where we are deficient. My learning has come through simple people.
   Here are some examples: David had Jonathan, Paul had Silas, John Wesley had George Whitefield, Martin Luther had Philip Melanchthon, who was 14 years younger. Martin Luther learned that he needed someone in his life to complete the work God called him to do. Luther had the greatest respect for this friend who helped him reform the Church of their day, and the Church as we know it at present. Luther learned a great deal from Melanchthon, who was a great scholar at a young age. He could speak several languages, and he became professor of Greek at the new University of Wittenberg at 21 years of age. Melanchthon helped shape the protestant movement of the sixteenth century through his writings, moral purpose, and religious conscience. Luther and Melanchthon became inseparable, and when they died, they were buried next to each other.
   It was said that Martin Luther, the Reformer, was often discouraged. In fact, his wife thought the only way to help him was to shock him out of it. She put on a black dress and veil as if she was going to a funeral. When he asked her who died, she said, "Martin, haven't you heard? God has died." He declared, "That is blasphemy!" His wife said, "Aye Husband, and it is blasphemy for you to be living as if God is dead." Needless to say, Martin snapped out of it.
   Who has God placed in your life at this moment to complement you? Perhaps it is a mate, spouse, perhaps it is a close friend, or perhaps it is a business partner. If you lack this in your life, I encourage you to seek someone out who can speak into your life. If you have someone like this, tell him or her how much you appreciate the role he or she plays in your life and your walk with God. God always puts such people on our path to help us be the people God meant for us to be. "We are people, because of other people." Two is better than One.

Shalom to you all,
Your friend and pastor,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Pastor@st-ansgars-montreal.ca

Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2003/11/18
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal