Ecclesiastes 4.7-12 says,...and Bible reading, week 2, day 3

Today's verses are Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, which read,

v.7, 8 - Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.  There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor.  Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?"  This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

Solomon has been bringing out things that are beneficial to us and given to us by God.  Work is one of those things.  Justice and living righteous lives in accordance to common law is another.  In Solomon's search for meaning he is uncovering good things along the way, they are just not the ultimate answer to the question of meaning or true fulfillment.  Today's revelation is the benefit of companionship and family.

The picture is a person who is selfishly single.  There is nothing wrong with being single but to be so for the purpose of serving self goes in the face of loving God and loving others.  One who is selfishly single will find out and come to the conclusion that all this work will end up in others hands and not those who have a blood relation because that element of life has been purposely not allowed to develop to feed the "me" machine all the more.  

The light goes on that all this laboring and depriving oneself to have more will not bring fulfillment but actually end with the end of life.  All that work will go to another and there is no connection with who is goes to.  There is no satisfaction or sense of provision for another as an heir because the value of the heir has not been nurtured or there has been a resistance to be in a submissive relationship to another.  Being totally selfish is vanity.

Human relationship have a value to us like work and justice.  It has a common grace and good that benefits us but is not the final answer to the question about having ultimate meaning in life.  Solomon goes on to say,

v.9-12 - Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.  A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Solomon gives some practical insights here about the benefits of companionship.  Instead of two hands laboring, now you have four.  The production has doubled.  When one falls and is struggling to get back up, a companion can help that process and speed up recovery from a fall.  When there is a need, i.e. when one is cold, a companion can help with that need.  Finally, when one is attacked, another can be there to help defend what is right.  

He ends with a word picture of a cord braided with not one strand and not two strands but three.  This is the part that was taken by our wedding ceremonies to represent the bride and groom and God.  While that truth in a marriage is very true, I think for the Christian the cord whether married or single is you, God's family around you, and God Himself.  It shows us again a picture of the greatest commandments to love God and love others.  

How I cherish the relationship I have with my wife but also I how I cherish the relationship I have with the family of God along with my relationship with God.  He has purposely woven us together for our benefit to help with the labor and to help us recover when we fall and to meet needs that we need, physical, emotional, and spiritual, and to come to our defense when evil has overcome us.  Solomon has found another common good that God has given us.  Let us pray.

"Lord, how great You are to provide what we need in the form of others.  May we cherish the opportunity to love others and to love You.  May we look outward and realize that our great God has provided another something that benefits us as we follow after Your ways.  Thank You for those who You have put around me who help me work, pick me up, provide essential needs, and stand with me in the truth.  Amen."

Pastor Adam