Identifying Your Support System

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Around America, there are very few people that have short work days or work weeks. There are very few people who feel like they have the time or money to do the things they once loved. So, having a solid support system can be hard. Nonetheless, this does not mean that this is an excuse to avoid having a solid support system because that work is honestly meaningless if you have no one to share the fruits of your labor with (v.8). If you don’t believe me, during creation, the only thing God said wasn’t good was the fact that man was alone (Genesis 2:18). All of that work that God put in to create the world and something still was missing. That discontentment in itself should be motivation as to why we need to have healthy relationships with other people that turn into our support system. A healthy relationship with someone in your support system should include the following: people who will help each other up, people who will keep each other “warm,” and people who will defend each other.

If you currently have no one in your life that you could call on when you made a mistake or needed financial assistance, then there is a good chance you need to reconstruct your support system and think about the role you play in other people’s support system (v.10). God has placed other people around you to help you, and you cannot allow your pride to stop you from receiving the aid you need. He also doesn’t want you to become so wrapped up in your own life that you can’t stop to help a friend. Even if you can’t help them financially, this may mean offering them a kind word or listening to them after a long day.

If you currently have no in in your life that you can turn to take care of you when you are feeling down, then there is a good chance you need to reconstruct your support system and think about the role you play in other people’s support system (v.11). There is no one who is busy at all times of the day. People make time for who and what they want to make time for, and God has called us to make time for each other. If you are feeling alone and your “friend” never has time to pick up the phone or you never have time to answer the phone to talk to people, then you should probably reconfigure your priorities before it is too late. The last thing you want is to be in a situation where you are the one who needs support, but you have neglected relationships around you for so long that there is no one there to give you the attention you need.

If you currently have no in in your life that is willing to defend you when people speak poorly about you, then there is a good chance you need to reconstruct your support system and think about the role you play in other people’s support system (v.12a). God wants us to stand up for each other and speak highly of each other. If only negative things come out of your mouth about someone that you consider your friend. First you need to pray about that relationship, but then you should go to that person and have a conversation about what is going on. If you hear others speaking poorly about someone, you should be willing to defend that member of your support system publicly and address that issue with them privately so that the bond can remain strong.

Even if you have checked all these three components off about your support system or yourself, no support system is complete without Christ (v. 12b). God should be at the center of every relationship you have and those that you are trying to build. Any relationship that has been put together by Christ and has Him at the center will be successful. Once you have these four components, you will have a strong support system that can handle any insecurity that may come your way.

Prayer: Lord thank you for this day. Thank you for the support system I currently have and the people that are currently in it. I thank you that even in this moment you are revealing to me people who I didn’t think cared or that I didn’t think valued my existence. I thank you right now that I will be a better friend to those around me. More importantly, I thank you that I am putting you at the head of my life and center of my relationships right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.