What happens when two horses are pulling the load together?

Last Saturday I went with a group of youths and parents from Sovereign Joy Community Church to the Rebelution Conference. If you haven't heard of this conference its a growing movement of young people that are rebelling against the low expectations of today's culture by choosing to do hard things for the glory of God. And Alex and Brett Harris are twin brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Don't Date the Church) they're the leading voice of this new movement.

I had a great time at the conference, I think we all did-except for the youths that came that weren't born again. They sort of had a sour attitude-but they got to hear the Gospel message and had some serious thinking to do after the conference and for that I'm grateful to God.

I was impressed with the maturity of Brett and Alex Harris. What really stood out to me was the fact that these two young men are only 19 years old and have done amazing things for God. Their website has receive something like 18 million hits, they host conferences around the U.S. and internationally, and they wrote a book, this year, called Do Hard Things (which I will be giving away for our free drawing in the weeks to come).

They struck me as being humble young men that love the Lord deeply and aren't giving in to low expectations of society. Men that aren't wasting their teen years on meaningless things like endless hours of video games, but they are men that serve God in hard ways and are challenging other young men and women to do the same.

I was reading their book, Do Hard Things, earlier today and in the 7th chapter which is called The Power of Collaboration they discuss how there is strength in numbers. They explain how a study of horses revealed that a single horse could pull an average of 2,500 pounds. Then the test was repeated with two horses. Naturally you would imagine that they could pull double the weight-equaling about 5,000 pounds. Right? But no--listen to this! Two horses working together pulled 12,500 pounds! That's five times the amount one could pull alone!

This analogy was a good reminder that God made us to work with others. There is no such thing as a "Lone Ranger" Christian. In fact, the Bible warns us of the danger of isolating ourselves from others. Listen to what Hebrews 10: 24-25 says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Fellowship with the brethren is beautiful and is God's design for our growth and His glory. Proverbs 18:1 aptly describes a man who isolates himself, "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."

I like what Alex and Brett have to say earlier in the same chapter of the book, "We need to change the way we think about large projects and big ideas. Instead of focusing on our individual limitations, what if we stepped back, looked around, and asked, "Who could be motivated to tackle this with me?"

The same is true with evangelism or any ministry for that matter. Look around and ask yourself, "Is there anyone who is willing to serve with me for the glory of God? Is there anyone I can team up with?" Pray and ask the Lord for Him to bring you a special friend(s) that shares your same passions and that have your vision for the lost or for visiting widows or whatever ministry you are desiring to do. Our God is faithful and able to do more than we can ask or think!