Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Strength in Numbers

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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.
  
Message: Two are better than One

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
 
What the Lord is Saying: 

Today's message is simple, as many are. The Preacher (writer of Ecclesiastes), through his travels and life journey, is now simply making the statement that, "Two are better than one" and then following this statement shows why this is so, giving a few examples. 

To start, the Tabletalk reading for the day made the comment that after each day of the creation story that God created, the end of the day was marked with the words, what God has made is good, but in regards to the creation of man, the remark was it is not good for man to be alone. We need each other, but more specifically, though we continue to need each other and community, the relationship between a man and a woman is unlike any other relationship, and this is why God made sure that man knew that the solution to him was not another person like him, but instead a woman. The woman completed the man. 

And yet, this particular passage is not necessarily communicating just about men and women, but it is putting forth the idea that two people, such as two men or two women or a man and a woman, two people are better than one. And our lives are a testimony of this. We do not want to do life alone. We want to have a friend and often young people, my children, are drawn to have at least one very good friend. And having that one person that shares your interests and that you walk with each day is very important to our lives. 

And this continues throughout life. As I go out and witness or share faith with others, having my friend with me makes it much easier. We are there to help each other if one stumbles. We challenge each other. There is teamwork in the discussion. We are drawn to fellowship with other people, seeking accountability and encouragement from one another. 

They have a good return for their labor
One thing I notice around the house is how much easier it is to do the dishes when 2 people are working on it together or how much easier it is to do a project outside. It just gets easier with 2 people versus just one. It's a simple concept. It's very simple. Yet, it is something I need to be reminded. 

If either falls, the one will lift up his companion
This is what makes labor or life or anything easier, one is there to pick us up.  

If two lie down together they keep warm
This reference is not necessarily for a husband and wife, but rather two people traveling together. It is better to have someone to lie next to, to give comfort and to keep warm. Again, we need each other. It makes life more bearable. 

If one overpowers one then two can resist him
Once again, if two people are present, when one is attacked, the other person is there to come to the aid. This is key because often the goal of any group is to divide people and make them to have discord among one another. Our children, can do this, in trying to pit mom against dad. The desire is to get what they want and so they 

Three are even better
I have often heard this phrase used to say that with man and woman together, then add in the Holy Spirit (thus three) and the cord is not quickly torn apart. The only problem with this is if the Holy Spirit is present, the cord would never be torn apart. But, in the context it really is simply saying that two are better than one and three are even better. 

Promise: Don't go it alone. It's better, any way you slice it, to be with others.