Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 (Choosing the Better)

Introduction

Since Genesis 3, the world has been full of dangers, toils, and snares. There are hardships and pitfalls all around us, and we are unable to avoid them all.

Not only are there dangers out there, but even within our own hearts and minds there are grievous vulnerabilities. “The enemy is within the gates,” as they say. We are prone to misunderstand all sorts of things. We naturally want things that are bad for us, and we don’t want what is good for us. So too, we intuitively defend our ignorance and foolishness rather than confess it and turn away from it.

If this is true… and if the corruption of this world means that even our best efforts to live well are no sure protection against evil, against sinners, or against our own sinful temptations and self-destructive desires… then what’s the point?

Why should I try so hard to live wisely, if fools will often excel faster and farther than me?

Why should I use my strength or wealth to help others, if most of the people who are stronger or wealthier than me only push me down?

If family and friends often drain me of time and resources, why shouldn’t I just live alone and enjoy what I’ve got all by myself?

And if a little of something is good, then won’t more always be better?

Today, in our study through Ecclesiastes, we have come to a point in the “Preacher’s” lesson where he seems to be clarifying that there is actually a better way to live than nihilism or skepticism or fatalism. We don’t have to give up on everything, we don’t have to be cynical about joy or blessings, and we don’t have to live as defeated people in the world… with no purpose or motivation.

The author of Ecclesiastes has been telling us for three chapters now that life “under the sun” is full of “vanity” or “emptiness” or “meaninglessness.”

Some of you may remember chapters 1 and 2, where the author of Ecclesiastes set the groundwork for all that follows:

Wisdom itself is vain, because it often comes without any ability to fix what is broken.

Pleasure is vain, because it doesn’t last and you often don’t find it when and where you want it.

Work or labor is vain, because what you build is only temporary, and because you don’t have any control over what will happen to it after you die.

Now, it’s true that chapter 3 offered us something of a solution to this problem of “vanity” or “meaninglessness.” In short, we must live in this apparently chaotic and absurd world with the understanding that God is in charge of it all. It may seem vain or empty or meaningless (from one perspective), but there is a plan behind all of it, and there’s a sovereign, loving, and wise God ruling over all of it.

We learned, in chapter 3, that if we will live with an understanding that God is in charge of everything (even though we are not), and if we will receive our circumstances (whether good or bad) as given by God’s good and wise design, then we can indeed find joy in the midst of this life “under the sun.”

Today, in chapter 4, we will now see that the “Preacher” does not want his reader to just sit back and wait for life to happen. The fact that God is sovereign does not in any way mean that believers should be oblivious to God’s designs in creation or inattentive to God’s commands for wise living.

In fact, we will see four ways here that the “Preacher” says we ought to live wisely amid whatever circumstances we’ve been given. There are four contrasts in our passage today, each one pointing out what is “better” than the alternative.

May God help us choose the “better” in our own lives today.

Scripture Reading

Ecclesiastes 4:1–16 (ESV)

1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. 5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 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!

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.

15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Main Idea:

Even in a sin-cursed world, it is better to live according to God’s good design and commands; so, we should choose the better.

Sermon

1. Better to Avoid Suffering (v1-3)

It is better to not know (or experience) the evil under the sun than to suffer it… and better still to trust God’s judgment against evil on the last day.

Four times in our passage, the “Preacher” says, “I saw,” and each time he notes some “vanity” or “absurdity” of life “under the sun.”

So too, with each “vanity,” the “Preacher” considers a “better” perspective or position or pursuit… a better way to live, even in a sin-cursed and fallen world.

Let’s take a look at each one together.

What did the “Preacher” see (in v1-3)?

v1, “I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun.”

These “oppressions” or “exploitations” are the sort that those with “power” CAN exercise over those who are inferior in some way.

Clearing some confusion… not all “power” is “oppression.”

In our culture and society, every inequality or disparity is often viewed as some form of “oppression.”

Critical Theory of every sort is destroying the western world, but that’s not what the “Preacher” is talking about.

Just because someone has more – power, authority, money, opportunity, influence – does not mean they are oppressive.

This is a childish solution for every problem which only creates a multitude of new problems. And it’s peddled by those who just want more power for themselves, so that they can retaliate against those whom they perceive to have more than they do.

Indeed, one of the “Preacher’s” main laments here (in v1) is that “power” is “on the side” of the “oppressors” rather than “on the side” of those “oppressed” by them (v1).

Thus, “power” is not “oppressive” in itself.

“Power” is what the oppressed need in order to be free from the tyranny of their oppressors.

“Power” is what those with it ought to use for the good of everyone, including those under it.

But in our sin-cursed world, “power” is often used to oppress or exploit others.

Real oppression in our sin-cursed and corrupted world.

Those with more money can exploit those with less.

High interest pay-day loans.

Overwhelming credit card debt.

Those with more strength can oppress those with less.

Schoolyard bullies.

Men who physically abuse women or children.

Those with more authority or higher status can oppress as well.

A boss who hires his unqualified friends.

A politician who favors big donors over his constituents.

The Bible teaches us to expect that non-Christians with worldly power and influence will often persecute Christians.

Every other major religion in the world – Muslims, Hindus, and Secularists alike – when these ascend to political or state power, create difficulties for faithful Christian living.

Friends, power can certainly be used to oppress in our sin-cursed world.

What does the “Preacher” say is “better”?

The “dead” are “more fortunate” than the “living” (v2), and “better” still are those “not yet” born (v3).

Now, I don’t think this is a preference for death over life, but rather a brutally honest assessment of the cruelty that exists.

Friends, have you ever felt like there is no remedy?

Have you ever found yourself under the weight of some powerful and vindictive person… some steamrolling institution… or some unjust law?

I can remember a time when I felt this way.

My wife and I have been foster parents on a couple of occasions, several years ago.

We worked with a “Christian” agency, so we’d have an advocate between us and the state.

But when a precarious situation arose with one of the children in our home, I found myself in a room with several people who cared far more about avoiding their own liabilities than they did about my family.

I’m not speaking against fostercare, but…

And I think that’s what the “Preacher” is getting at when he says it’s “better” to not know of the evil in the world than to suffer it.

And yet, suffer it we must.

But remember what the “Preacher” said back in chapter 3.

“I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness… [but] God will judge the righteous and the wicked” on the last day (Ecc. 3:16-17).

Thus, it is “better” to avoid the “evil” and “oppression” of powerful wicked men if we can, but when we can’t, it’s better to trust that God judges rightly.

2. Better to be Content (v4-6)

It is better to have peace with a little than either want or envy.

In v1-3, the contrast is between suffering evil and oppression and avoiding it… Here, in v4-6, the contrast is between (A) what we call contentment and (B) either too little (caused by laziness) or never enough (which is the always-hungry monster of envy).

What did the “Preacher” see (in v4-6)?

“I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor” (v4)… “The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh” (v5).

The “Preacher” speaks in hyperbole and metaphor.

Hyperbole: “all toil and all skill in work come from… envy” (v4).

Metaphor: “The fool… eats his own flesh” (v5).

This is the language of poetry and wisdom literature.

Envy is never satisfied – “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot” (Proverbs 14:30).

In Ecc. 4, “envy” motivates tremendous activity in “work,” but it is “vanity and a striving after the wind” because there will never be enough (v4).

Surely, some of us have experienced people like this.

Maybe some of us have tendencies in this direction!

We see a beautiful house, we drive by a nice car/truck, we see vacation pictures on social media… and we start to hate our own stuff, we begin to despise our meager paycheck, and maybe we even begin scheming for more.

But, friends, if “envy” is our motive, then no bank account will be big enough.

We don’t need more; we need to slay the big green dragon of envy.

Foolish laziness leads to want – “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:10-11).

In Ecc. 4, the picture is the same – a “fool folding his hands” instead of putting them to work – but the metaphorical result is different – he “eats his own flesh” (v5).

Friends, whichever picture stays best in our minds, it is good for us to remember that foolish laziness is just as thieving as a robber and just as self-destructive as eating our own flesh.

It may be that some of us have fallen on hard financial times due to no fault of our own, but so often anyone can see how we got into this mess, and no generous handout is going to keep us from getting right back into it.

We often don’t need help; we just need to get busy, to make a better effort, and take our responsibilities seriously.

So, the “Preacher” “saw” that some people never have enough (because their envious appetite is never satisfied) and others always have too little (because they give themselves over to laziness and inactivity).

What does the “Preacher” say is “better” (in v6)?

“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind” (v6).

This seems a pretty easy proverb or truism to unpack here.

It’s better to have a little “quiet” or “rest” (NASB) or “tranquility” (NIV84) than to have both “hands full” of “toil” or “travail” (KJV) or “labor” (NASB).

Note that the contrast is not between having more or less STUFF, but having more or less “striving after the wind” (v6).

Friends, whether one has a lot or a little, the difference between pleasure and pain (regarding our work and wealth) is contentment.

Are you content?

Do you work diligently, do you budget and spend reasonably, and do you thank God for what He provides?

When is the last time you spent more than a few minutes thinking about why you work, or how your time and effort on a job complements or takes away from other aspects of your life (family, church, friends, building thicker community)?

When is the last time you had an honest conversation with a solid Christian brother or sister about making good use of your time, your money, or your other resources?

Friends, even in a sin-cursed world, it is better to live according to God’s good design and commands when it comes to our work , our finances, our ambitions, and our contentment. So, we should strive to understand God’s good design for us… we should aim to know God’s commands… and we should discipline ourselves to live in keeping with God’s better for us.

3. Better to Live Together (v7-12)

It is better to live in relationship with others than in isolation.

In v7-12 the contrast is between life in isolation (living only for one’s personal desires) and life in relationship with others. And this contrast is especially relevant to us, because we live in a culture that seems bent on making us a bunch of isolated individuals with no sense of genuine dependence upon others around us.

What did the “Preacher” see?

“I saw… one person who has no other, either son or brother… he never asks, ‘For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?’” (v8).

Long before there were iPhones and iPads, there has always been (since Genesis 3) a sinful desire to “get mine,” to “be successful, no matter the cost,” and to jump into the “rat race” with no other thought than that of eating the cheese.

But this is “vanity and an unhappy business,” says the “Preacher” (v8).

Jesus asked the question, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

It is certainly good and right for us to think about our worldly pursuits in light of eternity… and we don’t want to sacrifice the greater for the lesser.

But so too, I think we would do well to ask, “What will it profit a man if he gains every ambition of his heart…

but has no one to share in his adventures…

no one to share in his victories…

no one with whom to share his hardships…

no wife to respect him…

no children to love him…

no friends to admire him…

and no city gates to welcome him when he returns with his winnings?”

Friends, when we focus only on ourselves… we may indeed suffer for it in the world to come… but we will also endure pains for our efforts in the world right now.

What does the “Preacher” say is “better”?

“Two are better than one…” for several reasons (v9).

“they have a good reward for their toil” (v9).

When more than one is able to combine their labors, they will achieve more than any could do alone.

“if they fall, one will lift up his fellow” (v10).

We all inevitably face hardship and even failure, and we need good friends to come alongside us.

“two… [can] keep warm” when it’s cold (v11).

Not only do we need encouragement when we’re down, but we also depend upon others to help us bear our burdens.

And “though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him” (v12).

When criminals or oppressors come against us, strength and wit are good things to have, but a coalition is better.

Friends, what are some ways that you are isolating yourself from others?

Are you trying to build your life around the idea that you don’t need anyone for help, for advice, for camaraderie, or for safety?

What are some ways we might push against the pervasive notion in our culture that we are just a bunch of interchangeable bricks in a wall?

God has designed the family (not the individual) as the basic building block of society.

And God has designed us to participate with others in churches (if we’re Christians) and in civic communities… for mutual benefits.

And even in a sin-cursed world, it is better to live according to God’s good design and commands; so, we should choose the better.

4. Better to Live Wisely (v13-16)

It is better to be wise than foolish… and yet remember that we live in a sin-cursed world.

In this last section, the “Preacher” mentions the “better” before he says what he “saw,” but the pattern of contrasting – what he sees with what is better – remains the same. Here, in v13-16, the contrast is between a “foolish king” and a “poor and wise youth” (v13).

But I think the reason the “Preacher” reverses the order here (it is “better,” and then “I saw”) is because the author of Ecclesiastes is returning to one of his main themes of the book – that we live in a sin-cursed world of vanity and futility.

Indeed, it is better to live wisely, even in a sin-cursed world… but this is no ultimate or lasting or sure remedy to the unhappy business of life under the sun.

It’s “better” to be “poor and wise” than powerful and “foolish”?

See it there in v13. “Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice” (v13).

Friends, this is certainly true in politics, but it’s also true in every area of life under the sun.

There is no amount of security or power or influence that will overcome foolishness in our lives.

“fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).

“a fool flaunts his folly” (Prov. 13:16).

“a babbling fool will come to ruin” (Prov. 10:8).

But whatever our circumstances, the wise life is always the better one.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom” (Prov. 3:13).

“wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding” (Prov. 10:23).

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (Prov. 13:14).

Friends, even in a cursed and sinful world, it is better to be wise.

It is better to know the way God intends for us… and to walk in it.

It is better to understand God’s instructions… and to apply them.

It is better to consider what God said is true and right and good… and to align ourselves accordingly.

And I think this might be the main takeaway of our passage.

Even in a sin-cursed world, it is better to live according to God’s good design and commands (i.e., to live wisely); so, we should choose the better.

But wise living (i.e., according to God’s good design and commands) is no ultimate or permanent or sure solution to the problems of life under the sun.

Note how the “Preacher” concludes with yet another exasperation – “Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind” (v16).

Even the wise youth who grew up and ascended the throne of the foolish king would not bring unalloyed joy to his people – they “will not rejoice in him” says the “Preacher” (v16).

Earthly kings let their people down.

Earthly kingdoms are filled with foolish and corrupt citizens.

And this is the constant refrain of the author of Ecclesiastes.

Indeed…

no amount of effort to avoid evil,

no experience of true contentment,

no commitment to live well in relationship with others,

and no striving toward the wise way of living

will ultimately give us any sure escape from the vanity or absurdity or futility of life under the sun.

What we ultimately need is not a better way of life than others around us… but a Savior to rescue us from our own evil and ingratitude and selfishness and foolishness… We need someone better to save us from our sin and from all the consequences of it.

Friends, I’ve been arguing today that even in a sin-cursed and fallen world, it is still better to live according to God’s good design and commands. Truly, this is what we ought to do!

The more we resist God’s design for us, the more we neglect or rebel against God’s commands, and the more we live our lives as foolish ones who irrationally think that we can just make this whole thing up for ourselves… the more we will suffer the consequences of our foolishness.

But the more we give an effort to embrace God’s design, to submit to God’s commands, and to live wisely in keeping with God’s purposes for us… the more we will enjoy the benefits of the better life.

And yet, there is no getting around the fact that we still live in a sin-cursed world. And our best efforts to live wisely will not prevent us from hardship, from pain, from affliction, or from grief.

Indeed, we will regularly suffer the consequences of sin (both others against us and our own). So too, in the end, we must give an account for every thought, word, and deed; and God will deliver perfect justice to every man, woman, boy, and girl.

Thus, the message of Christianity (the message of the Bible) is not primarily about a better way of living. Rather the gospel message is about how to have life and not death.

The Bible teaches us that God Himself has entered into our sin-cursed world, and He has suffered the full weight of sin’s curse. In the person and work of Jesus Christ, God has condemned sin and sinners. And God has shown us that Jesus’s sacrifice was acceptable by raising Him from the dead.

And this same Jesus who has lived and died and conquered death for sinners like us has promised that if we will simply believe or trust in Him then we can have real hope that He will rescue us from our sin, He will grant us forgiveness before God, and He will raise us up with Him on the last day… to a world where sin’s curse will be no more.

Friends, if you are turning from your sin and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ today, then we should choose the better. We should understand that our world is still marred by sin, and we are inevitably going to encounter troubles and temptations at every turn. But we should not lose hope, nor should we simply give up our efforts to live faithfully and wisely in the world.

If you are not right now turning from your sin and trusting in Christ, then please understand that the first thing you must do is not just decide to live more wisely, but rather you should repent and believe the gospel. Only then will you know what it means to live the kind of life I’ve been talking about today, and only then will you even be able to do it.

Of course, if you want to talk more about this, then let’s get together.