Eccl 4:7-11 The Companion
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Friday 14th November 1997
Eccl 4:7-11 The Companion
(Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 NIV) Again I saw something meaningless under the
sun: {8} There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his
wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving
myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless-- a miserable business!
{9} Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their
work: {10} If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the
man who falls and has no one to help him up! {11} Also, if two lie
down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
{12} Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord
of three strands is not quickly broken.
It is not good for man to be alone. Man is not a solitary creature
and we do not function well in life as individualists. For a start
all our effort is pointless if it is only for ourselves. We can work
and work and wear ourselves out and never as the obvious question"
for whom and I toiling". Working only to benefit ourselves is
meaningless and miserable.
Two are better than one "for they have a good return for their work".
There is a synergy in a good partnership that far outweighs the
individual contributions. Gilbert & Sullivan was one such brilliant
musical combination, Torville& Dean in skating..and many others.
Life is full of "falling down". Solomon recognises this. He knows
that the bad times come, the tragedy, depressions, illness, and
strife. In such times the loner is in deep trouble they have no
resources to call on and they just sink further into their misery.
The Christian may call on God but God, I think, prefers us to lay
hold of the people He has put us among and our church fellowship. God
will help us but He likes to help through others.
Verse 11 seems strange - about "how can one keep warm alone". There
is a coldness in being a loner that is more than just physical.
There is spiritual and emotional warmth in being together.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. This can refer to
three friends or a husband, wife and child or two friends and the Lord
or some would see the Trinity in it. Whatever your interpretation
(and there is something in all of them) its good to be in a three way
network. The "energy flow" is from you to someone else to a third
person and back to you. Because of the interactions a threesome is
actually much times stronger than a "twosome" in relational terms.
(Draw three dots and arrows between them with all the possible
interactions and you will see what I mean). With God closely
involved in a marriage you can have a much stronger relationship.
Prayer:
Teach our independent hearts the value of others and of having You in
all our relationships. Amen.
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