We Can Do This Together

Text

Eccl 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.”

Introduction

The book of Ecclesiastes is an interesting book

The book calls attention to the words of the Qohelet or “teacher/preacher”

The Teacher calls attention to life and what purpose we can find in it

He tells us that there are many things we strive after but in reality, they are vanities:

WISDOM, CAREER, POWER, PLEASURE, WEALTH = Vanity “trying to grab smoke”

Compared to the earth, it reamins the same. There will be memory of you and all the hustle you made.

What then, is the point of life? -

Eccl 12:13-14 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

Serving God is not “grabbing smoke”

Serving God is not a waste of time

Serving God is not vain. . . there is purpose. . . there is reward

Our Text - Examine then Apply

Our text is sandwiched between the writer talking about LABOUR and RULING. . .both are vanities

But between them is something he doesn’t attached that label to.

The Principle: Eccl 4:9 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.”

Provided that they have the same GOALS, OBJECTIVES, MOTIVE, ENERGY, DESIRE - they get a better return because two going at it is better one going at it

This is a true, practical and heavenly principle

When TWO put the labour in, put the effort in, put the time in it works better

Have you ever laboured on a project (work/school) and everyone did not contribute vs. one where everyone “chipped in”?

God designed us for relationship

Whenever you see someone having great success, look behind them!

Serena Williams, Lebron James, CR7, Brian Lara, Beyonce

APPL. - The landscape of the church.

We are faced with the inevitability of aging.

There are multiple generations in the church but this doesn’t mean that we can’t make that work

Look at the reasons: all of them come from someone on a journey

Reason #1 Eccl 4:10 “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.”

Falls: Collapse, come short, to have an object go from a high place to a low place in an uncontrolable way

Anyone can fall - “if either”

But. . .I will have help

“his companion” - notice how they are viewed [NOT enemy, problem, miserable. . .companion]

APPL. SUPPORT, HELP, WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER

Reason #2 Eccl 4:11 “Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?”

This is a survival mechanism that is alluded to

Penguins in Antartica can face temperatures as low as -60°C

At the center of the huddle temeratures can reach as high as 37°C

Together they can withstand a condition that would kill them if they are alone

APPL. It’s better to go through it together than alone.

Reason #3 Eccl 4:12 “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

Some things that we can do together

Pray

Serve

Connect (with each other)