The theme of our current sermon series is “Connected Lives.” These sermons speak to the value of relationships and are based on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Connection to others is crucial in our lives. A 75-year study shows that without it, we are susceptible to mental health issues like depression and anxiety or physical symptoms like illness and cognitive decline. Fortunately, the Bible contains many lessons on how to forge strong partnerships, including a relationship with God. Let’s look at what we can learn to live healthier lives.
What Makes a Good Life? Connection
Robert Waldinger is the director of a long-running Harvard Study on Adult Development. For 75 years, the study has tracked the lives of 724 men from teenage life into adulthood to determine what factors contributed to their happiness. Waldinger states that early in the study, young men often cited money, power, or fame as goals, but those priorities shifted as life went on. The study uncovered three important lessons about what matters most:
1. Good Relationships Keep Us Happier and Healthier
Most significantly, the study found that participants who felt connected to friends, family, and community had more fulfilling lives and lived longer. Conversely, those with fewer connections were less happy and experienced premature health decline
2. The Quality of Relationships Matters
A vital distinction is that it’s not just the number of relationships people have but the quality that matters. A person can feel just as lonely in a high-conflict marriage as someone who lives alone. Researchers found it was supportive connections, not cholesterol levels that predicted who would be healthiest later in life.
3. Trustworthy Relationships Protect Our Brains
Being attached to another person in your 80s is protective. Octagenereans in the study who felt they could truly depend on their partner, even if they bickered occasionally, had sharper memories than those who lacked this trust.
How to Forge Healthy Connection: 5 Lessons from the Bible
Knowing that connection is key to human happiness, the question becomes, how do you build healthy relationships that last? From Adam and Eve to Sampson and Delilah, the Bible is filled with historic partnerships. Let’s look at the power of connection in the Bible and the lessons we can learn.
1. Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve are among the most iconic couples in history. Perhaps this is because they offer a masterclass in supporting one another through life’s highs and lows. Despite being tempted by Satan and exiled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve stuck it out together. They endured hunger, hardship, and illness to create a family in a new and challenging world.
Lesson: All relationships are tested. Learn to forgive and support the people you love no matter what you face.
2. Cain and Abel
Comparison is the thief of joy and the story of Cain and Abel is the perfect illustration. Cain cannot endure the jealousy he feels after God accepts his brother Abel’s offering but not his. In a flash of rage, he lashes out and kills his brother, only to be punished by God for his outburst.
Lesson: Don’t let bitterness and resentment fester in your relationships. When problems arise, seek mutually agreeable resolutions through empathy and understanding.
3. Abraham and Sarah
Despite being beyond child-bearing age, Sarah and her husband Abraham maintain faith that they will someday become parents. When Abraham sees three strangers, he invites them in and feeds them. God sees this deed and rewards the couple with a son, Isaac. This story demonstrates the power of enduring faith and the value of selfless hospitality.
Lesson: Faith enhances connection. By aligning your goals with others and supporting each other while doing good, you will achieve a productive and lasting connection.
4. Moses and Aaron
Moses had a speech impediment and was worried how effective he would be as a leader. He resisted God’s mandate repeatedly until he finally relented. Fortunately, his brother Aaron was an effective communicator who stepped up to help Moses lead the Israelites out of slavery.
Lesson: Embrace your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. By working together and complementing each other’s abilities, you can achieve great things and serve your community.
5. John the Baptist and Jesus
John the Baptist dedicated his life to uplifting others. When he baptized Jesus, he recognized that Jesus was the son of God and devoted himself to creating a ministry. He continued to preach repentance and encouraged his followers to devote themselves to Jesus.
Lesson: Put your ego aside and uplift others. Connection comes through a sincere desire to do good and help others achieve their potential. You get what you give.
Find Your Connection
The unfortunate reality is that one in five Americans is lonely. As a society and a culture we can do better to support one another. Let the church be your gateway to connection. Through worship, service, and activities, King of Kings offers a warm community of individuals who come together in God’s love. Together we seek to improve our world and create meaningful connections. Please join us Sunday or email us to learn more.