After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, and his wife Priscilla ... and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. —Acts 18:2-3b
Aquila and Priscilla are minor biblical characters, but they were clearly important in Paul’s faith journey. One of the things that bonded the three so strongly was their mutual occupation of tent making. Like Christians today, Paul, Priscilla and Aquila probably bonded over the common joys and struggles of their occupation. They might have shared tricks of the trade or asked each other’s advice on physical as well as spiritual matters. Christians today should endeavor to find like-minded people at work, school and wherever they go. This does not mean shunning unbelievers. It simply means building a support system with which they can share their deepest beliefs, questions and experiences. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about the value of having such a circle, because “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” The value of like-minded friends is extolled in many other passages, too. A network of fellow believers is absolutely vital to your spiritual journey. Believers who try to go solo are often vulnerable to Satan’s attacks and are more likely to become overwhelmed with circumstances. As the Bible points out, the purpose of Christian friendship is to bear one another’s burdens while sharing each
other’s joys. If you don’t have a network of believers in your life, reach out to find one. Start in your church, or if you don’t have one, pray about where God would have you attend. Offer to start a voluntary Bible study or Christian book club at work or school to attract other believers. Recreational sports teams are also good ways to form networks. As you find like-minded people, rejoice in your
shared faith together.
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