Elevated Friday, December 11th, 2020

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of a community coming together to support a business, and more importantly the people behind it, in need. Few, if any, industries have been struggling as much this year as the restaurant industry. Made up of mostly small, local businesses, when they are unable to serve others, they are unable to feed their own families. The Swan Dive pub in Toronto recently saw no way they could make their rent, even with the modest government subsidies they were being provided. After a plea for help posted to Facebook to buy the stock of beer their had, countless people from the community immediately came to their aid. The community bought out the entire stock, giving the restaurant enough money to stay afloat until the spring. Such actions seem small, but when we financially support the businesses in need in our communities, we are really supporting the people behind them.

Ecclesiastes says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Community is stressed in the Bible, especially this passage, because it is the most common place we find God’s blessings. When we are in need, our community is there to lift us up. However, the flip side of that coin is that when our community is in need, we need to be there to lift them up. Today, support the small businesses in your community that need help in this incredibly difficult year.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

Original Article:

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