The unity of believers is likened to a cord woven together. Like a threefold cord, unified believers are stronger and better able to endure the attacks from their enemies (Ecclesiastes 4:12). In Proverbs 6:16-19, the Lord gives a list of things He hates, one of which is when a man sows “discord among brethren.” What does it mean to sow “discord”? Perhaps the illustration given above sheds the necessary light for an answer. When believers are united, they are like multiple cords woven together. When someone sows discord, he attempts to undo or “discord” the threefold cord destroying the unity. Believers void of unity are weaker and more vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.
People unite over various causes. Some of those causes are righteous, while others are not. Unity based upon a righteous cause pleases the Lord and leads to righteous acts. Unity based upon ungodly or carnal causes grieves the Lord and leads to the wickedness we find so prevalent in the world today. After the flood, the Lord commanded Noah and his family to “replenish the earth” (Genesis 9:1). They could not replenish the earth if they remained together so the Lord wanted Noah’s family to spread out across the earth. Yet, the people immediately began settling together and “Noah began to be an husbandman” (Genesis 9:20). This may seem insignificant, but it was only the precursor to the unified desire in Genesis 11:4 to build “a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven.” Noah’s disobedience led to further and greater disobedience and unity in a common wicked cause.
Most people have heard the familiar cliché that "money can't buy you happiness." In fact, the greatest treasures of life cannot be purchased at all. Yet, accumulating treasures and eating the finest of foods are the prized possessions of life for far too many people. The Bible says that these things fade away in comparison to the spiritual blessings derived from a life devoted to the Lord. In fact, nothing in this world compares to a healthy, biblical fear of the Lord. The love and peace possessed by faithful Christians offers lasting fulfillment while the combined riches of the world simply flee away. When a man fears God, combined with the love of those around him, a dinner of herbs (unsatisfying to the discontented) satisfies his appetite while the blessings of God satisfy him wholly. The Bible repeatedly declares spiritual blessings far superior to any worldly possessions. Men would be wise to choose God's blessings over the world's accolades.
A balanced life should be the quest of every believer, especially as it relates to material possessions. Proverbs 30:7-9 describes the heartfelt desire of avoiding extremes. The man expresses his two requests to the Lord: not to be rich and not to be poor. Most people have no desire for the latter but would love to be showered in riches with need of nothing. Yet, Agur in the book of Proverbs provides wise reasons for desiring neither extreme. He feared that being rich would tempt him to forget the Lord. Yet, being poor might cause him to steal and thus take the name of God in vain. His desire focused rather on one necessity and that involved feeding him with food convenient for him.
