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| Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 |
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Lesson # Eccl. 4:9-12 Study Material - Eccl. 4:9-12 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Eccl. 4:9-12 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 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. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. There is no utopia in life. No situation is going to be perfect. In the previous verses a loner had problems though attempting to avoid society and the responsibilities that go along with living in society. Now we have the principle of two are better than one. The jungle has its rules. Better to be with a herd than to be off and alone in this world. Alone, you can be taken advantage of, you cannot get as much work done, you can not even stay warm. But with two people there is convenience, and the logic of this is that, in the jungle, if you were to ally yourself with others then life has better opportunities. A true statement - to a degree and in temporary form, but not permanent, and certainly not the answer to the problems of life. We can ally ourselves with others in business (partnerships, joint ventures), but these too though they have advantages, also have disadvantages. Disputes disrupt and associations dissolve, often in great adversity. As a matter of common sense, if you can create an association with others, with clearly written agreements of understanding, then your life (in the jungle) will be less troublesome. It is more difficult to tear apart many strands of cord than to tear apart a single cord. This can be taken two ways. If you are in the defensive, then bind together your resources with others in order to succeed. If, on the other hand, you are on the offensive against an adversary, then try to defeat them by dividing them and conquering them one part at a time, rather than an assault on their whole organization. Good military applications come from this concept. On the social side, this principle can be abused in male/female relationships - 'We'll live in together to save on rent, utilities, share the work, and so forth. This is a logical way of rationalizing the union apart from marriage. No commitment, but the convenience of a relationship without obligation. This is cheating on ones responsibilities. The whole chapter, actually the whole book of Ecclesiastes, concerns the human viewpoint and its ultimate vanity (emptiness). The purpose of an idea may be convenient or useful, or even good common sense in some cases, but it all leads to nothing in the long run. Why do the wicked prosper in this world? They follow the rules of the jungle. Buy low, sell high. Make legal and political associations. Research and market and advertise your product, have good customer service, be quicker or better than your competitor, get a good education, get a good job or career, invest wisely, and the list continues. These are good common sense applications of life. Some people do well in business, others not so well. Some people do well socially others not so well. But our objective in life is not simply to do well in the jungle, but to advance our life style into the sphere of a relationship with God. Life is far better there even if you lack the various skills that the common jungle citizen possesses. The jungle is not without its dangers. Even the best of intentions, the best of planning can fail. Man cannot see into the future. And the ultimate end of any person is that of death. None of us can escape that, nor can we prevent our entrance into eternity. To be prepared for that, there are spiritual concerns that need to be addressed in this life - a daily program of Bible study, etc. Otherwise, you can learn the rules of the jungle and even apply them to your advantage - for a time. As a believer who is growing up spiritually you will apply these jungle rules correctly to no ones disadvantage. Everyone gains. Freedom and prosperity prevail. But as a negative person , that is, negative toward God, then your utilization of the jungle rules will eventually seek to take advantage of others - your gain at their expense. Relationships fail for lack of commitment and lack of inner soul resources. Plans turn to misery and that which is sought (happiness) is never really achieved. 
Now is the time to post a prayer. End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
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