Imagine what the world would be like if we cooperated more! Unfortunately, we sometimes value our own interests more than cooperation. Young people often are portrayed as selfish and narcissistic, because of self-promotion through social media. Thankfully, some media reports give witness to young people who step up to the plate and cooperate with others to achieve good.

The Daily Herald, a newspaper in Columbia, Tennessee, published a story about Maury County youth who banded together with one another and with first responders to rescue their friend who had been injured when he fell down an embankment during a hunting trip. Firefighters stated that the injured youth’s friends “did an excellent job helping emergency responders with the rescue.” One of the friends met responders and led them to the injured friend in a difficult and wooded terrain. The others stayed with the friend and kept him calm and warm. 

Another heartwarming story of cooperation is that of two Australian teen boys who rescued burned koalas from the devastating Australian bushfires. The teens said they rescued as many koalas as they could, which they think is around 20. All any of us can do is the best we can do! Their cooperation saved those koalas from the death suffered by more than one billion animals in that horrible disaster. 

We often become overwhelmed by the great need in the world, so it seems easier to do nothing. What if we resolved to do what we can, whether alone or in cooperation with others, as the young men in these two articles did? Ecclesiastes 4:12 states: “Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.” The Lord definitely strengthens us as individual believers. When we join our individual God-given strengths together, we become a powerful and positive force that makes a difference for good in this world.

Question of the day: When have you worked with others to help someone?
Focal scriptures: Mark 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Exodus 17:10-13

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.