November 7 / Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4

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

I have often found it curious that this passage shows up in Ecclesiastes. It seems like it should more properly be found in Proverbs. It is, I am sure, reasonably familiar to most of us, as it is often quoted (at least in part) to extol companionship and community. We heard it just last week in church as Ben preached on our new vision to be a “community of disciples”, and Fred told us that he and Carol chose this as a reading at their wedding. But when was the last time you heard this passage quoted along with the rest of (or even any other part of) Ecclesiastes 4? And yet that is where it is.

So why is this passage placed here in this chapter? Asking that question helps us see what the rest of the chapter is really all about: relationships. Do we work to build one another up? Or are we tearing one another down? Do we engage in oppression, or do we comfort? (Ecc. 4:1-3) Do we envy one another? (Ecc. 4:4) Do we isolate ourselves, becoming utterly alone? (Ecc. 4:5-8) Do we pursue positions of leadership, only to be forgotten? (Ecc. 4:13-16)

Take a look at your relationships, both friend and foe. Which look anything like “two are better than one”, and which are “vanity and a striving after wind”?