Tip #3 Serve together
**And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life** Philippians 4:3
You are probably asking me, “ Ok, Sue, what does this verse have to do with marriage?”
I know, it took me a while to see it, too.
First, I saw the word yokefellow…yoke…partners…two working together and going in the same direction.
Then I saw the word “help”….and “ fellow laborers” …and “book of life.”
So, putting it all together, there are two people, called to help others like them, others with the same beliefs, and that are going in the same direction.
So, if you are married and are working toward a better marriage, you are called to help others on their marriage path. What we freely receive, we should freely give. Is there a young couple that you could mentor?
Or, let’s say you are single. And you struggle with certain issues. Are there not other singles that you could partner with to help each other stay on the right path? To encourage each other on the tougher days? To help keep each other from choosing the wrong paths? Could you not find somewhere to serve and help with other singles and broaden your support group? And together you all carry the yoke?
It isn’t exclusive to the marriage relationship. It could be about parenting or families that are all going through loss or illness.
The idea is that we all are on the same path, maybe in different circumstances but the idea is that we are all in this together. We all share the same yoke, the same burdens and the same struggles.
I have learned over time that I actually learn more when I am teaching someone else. I am more accountable for what I learn and I put it into practice more often when I remember that someone is watching me.
If you are married, find a way to help another couple together. If you are single, make your circle bigger by finding a way to serve as a group. Families can serve together, deepening their friendship by helping and having that experience fuel healthy conversations.
Serving together, whoever is your partner, helps us all to step out of our own issues and help someone that hasn’t made it this far yet. And that helps move us forward as well. It’s a serving circle of growth for everyone!