There are some exercises you just can’t do on your own. They require an extra set of hands; or, maybe you could do them, but not as safely or effectively. You can push yourself harder and accomplish more when someone else is with you. It also makes you more committed: knowing someone is meeting you can provide the motivation to drag yourself to the gym when you might otherwise flake. Not to mention, working out is a lot more fun with a friend. Not that you can’t work out alone: it is certainly preferable to not at all. It’s just that having someone to share the experience with – encouraging and spurring each other on, talking between sets – is better.
The same is true for our faith. Each person is ultimately responsible for him or herself: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” the Apostle Paul wrote (Phil. 2:12 ESV). There’s a reason we call it a personal relationship with God: “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Yet, it is safer, more effective, and more fun to have a workout buddy.
“It is not good that man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18). God said that. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil,” the Preacher declared, “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecc. 4:9-10). Jesus trained His disciples to work together that way. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go” (Lk. 10:1).
Big breakthroughs in our faith came from brothers and sisters working together in pairs and small groups. Peter and John regularly prayed together and went on a mission trip to Samaria (cf. Acts 3:1, 8:14-16). Barnabas recruited Paul to the Antioch mission, which they also brought John Mark into (cf. Acts 11:25-26, 12:25). Later, Paul recruited Silas and Timothy to work with him (cf. Acts 15:40, 16:3). Husband and wife duo Aquila and Priscilla explained the way of God more accurately to Apollos together (cf. Acts 18:26). And look at the results! People were healed. Sins were forgiven. Disciples were encouraged. Churches were strengthened. Joy was felt.
Do you have a workout buddy? You could use one. Someone – or a small group of people – with whom you regularly pray, study, and serve. You can do so much more in the exercise of your faith when you have that mutual encouragement and accountability. You will grow stronger, go farther, and experience so much more joy when you aren’t trying to walk alone.