Blest Be The Tie That Binds

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

Written by John Fawcett in the mid 1700’s, this song epitomizes the ties that should bind the hearts of Christians as brothers and sisters.  Here’s the story behind this particular hymn.  Mr. Fawcett was saved at the age of 16 under the ministry of the famous George Whitfield.  At age 26, he was ordained in the Baptist church and accepted the call to pastor a small church in Wainsgate, England.  After serving several years in this impoverished congregation, he accepted the offer to pastor a larger, more influential congregation in London.  You see his family was growing and the opportunity to make more money and minister to a larger congregation was something that he could not pass up.  However, on the day of their planned departure, the parishioners of the congregation gathered around their packed wagon and mourned their farewell.  Mr. Fawcett’s wife is quoted as saying “John, I cannot bear to leave.  I know not how to go!”  Mr. Fawcett responded by saying “Nor can I either.”  They unpacked their bags, and stayed at the church… for over 50 years.  It is told that he never earned more than $200 a year as pastor of that church.

I really love this story because Mr. Fawcett displayed a deep love and connection with his congregation.  He did not view his pastorate as a stepping stone to something bigger and better.  He was not in it for the fame or for an easier lifestyle.  No, his love and connection with those people kept him there as a servant for over 50 years.  That is the kind of commitment that is truly “blest” and worth admiring and honoring.

Couple of phrases in the lyrics I wanted to comment on:

• “We pour our ardent prayers”  – Have you prayed an “ardent” prayer lately?  The dictionary defines “ardent” as “passionate, intensely devoted, enthusiastic, zealous and vehement.”  I know some people that pray this way, but I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that my prayers often times lack this kind of intensity and commitment.  I do know that when a group of people get together and pray this way – ardently, passionately, intensely – God hears those prayers.  He knows the burdens of a heart filled with this kind of emotion, and I believe He answers prayers offered that way.
• “the sympathizing tear” – Weeping is not necessarily one of those things we strive to do.  Most of us aren’t seeking places for our hearts to be broken, or do we look to take on the pain and hurt of a situation that might cause us to weep.  Most of us believe we have enough problems of our own, so we aren’t actively looking for things that would cause us to shed a “sympathizing tear.”  But I am reminded, and convicted, of the words of Paul in Romans 12 where he instructs us to “Rejoice with those that rejoice, and mourn with those that mourn.”  This tells me that in this Christian walk, we will encounter the extremes of emotions as we interact with people.  Some people that are celebrating and some that are mourning.  It is our responsibility to “bear one another’s burdens” and if that means shedding a sympathizing tear with someone who is in pain or who has lost a loved one, that is our call and obligation.

I love the old chorus “Bind us together” and many of you will be familiar with it.  We recently sang it at the His Hand Extended Devotion.  The phrase of that song that is most powerful to me is the prayer that says “Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.”  These kind of cords don’t come by legal documentation or contracts.  They don’t come as a result of mutually beneficial financial arrangements where it is a “win-win” for both parties.  These “cords” are cords of love.  A love that looks past wrongs done to one another.  A love that forgives trespasses.  A love that holds no record of wrongs. 

I pray that our families are bound by this tie that binds.  I pray that our churches are bound by this tie that binds.  I am thankful today that we are bound to one another in Christ.  My prayer today is “Help me, Lord, to have the kind of love, compassion, and commitment to fellow believers that the Fawcett’s displayed to this tiny congregation in England almost 300 years ago.  That kind of tie is truly “blest” by you.”