Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV
[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] 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! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Observation:
When you read Ecclesiastes, you might start to think life has no meaning. That everything you do is in vain. Throughout the middle of the book, you hear “the preacher” say meaningless, meaningless it’s all meaningless, and you might start to think that’s the point of the book. I mean, there are some little jewels in the middle. But for the most part, Solomon is describing life without the father. The first part of the book has some opening statements that lead me to believe this, and the conclusion of the book brings that point to light, however, right in the middle of Ecclesiastes. We find this statement. Two are better than one. They have a good return on their toil. I want us not to miss the point here. It’s not the work that gets done that Solomon is talking about. In the very next verse, he explains why he says this. He had found that with the help of another person, it was easier to stay on your game. When he started feeling like life was really meaningless, the other person would be there to encourage and lift him up. To keep each other warm at night. When fighting, it’s harder to overtake 2 than it is to overtake one. But then the statement at the end of these verses is where the most value is. Solomon wanted us to know it’s not about just one person it’s not even about two. Without the third element, we are back to the bulk of this book… meaningless. Ecclesiastes is a book about what life is like without a relationship with the Father. When HE is at the center of all our relationships, they will not be easy to break.
Application:
After spending the last 7 years by myself. I know a little bit about being alone. I’m not saying I know it all, but honestly, I’m not really interested in learning anymore either. If it were not for my relationship with GOD. I would have thought life was meaningless. So let me tell you what I have learned… you don’t realize that GOD is all you need until HE is all you have. Without HIM, I honestly would have pushed everyone out of my life and fell into depression. But that’s not what I want for me because I found in HIS word that’s not what HE wants for me. My desire is that my heavenly Father be right in the center of every relationship in my life because those relationships won’t go away. That’s a three-strand cord. You and I plus GOD are unbreakable. You can lift me up when I’m down, and I can tell you when and where the next attack is coming from, and with GOD fighting for us, who then can stand against us? At the very beginning of. The Bible, a very important statement, is made “It’s not good for man to be alone. I will make fir him a helper.” GOD saw the danger of us being isolated without someone to stand next to us, and honestly, just like every time HE speaks, HE is right. It’s very dangerous for us to be alone. We need help. We can’t do it all. No matter how hard we try. But the point of applying this scripture is this. Any relationship that is not GOD centered is a ticking time bomb.
Prayer:
Father, we want you to be the center of every relationship we form. I know I say this a lot, but I see the importance of knowing that this life is not about us. It’s about you. The life you want for us. The things you have in store for us. The plan you have. Father, we see in your word that you never intended for us to be alone, and we want what you want. If you have something in mind for us, show us. We do not want to ever be outside your will for our lives. We find comfort in you, and we want what you want for us. Help us to keep you at the very core of who we are. Our desire is to reflect you in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.