2 IS BETTER THAN 1

Good Evening its good to see everyone tonight. I want to label the message tonight “two are better than one.” Ecclesiastes is the sad sequel to the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs Solomon teaches his children practical wisdom to live a peaceable and Godly life. But in Ecclesiastes Solomon has to admit that he has played the fool, and has failed to take his own advice.

Ecclesiastes begins in chapter 1 verses 1&2 “the words of the preacher, the Son of David, King of Jerusalem.”

Vanity of Vanities says the preacher, vanity of vanities, or empty, or meaningless, or worthless. The book of Ecclesiastes is really a written sermon meant to warn you not to waste your life. It directs us to live a life shaped by Godly values, eternal significance, and spiritual priorities. This is God calling all of us to a meaningful life. Here Solomon says to us. that if your going to live a life that counts, you must value relationships more than possessions. you must value people more than things. You must delight in fellowship more than pleasure. He makes this point when he says “two are better than one”

But this statement seems very different than what the writer says in all of the surrounding verses. In verses 7-8 Solomon tells us that selfish isolation is vanity, then in verses 12-16 Solomon tells us that superficial fame is vanity. But in between those two passages he gives us a practical example for living a meaningful life. Between those two extremes of isolation and superficial fame, he lays down this principle: 2 are better than 1.

Of course there are times where someone may be hurt or betrayed or forsaken by another but Solomon doesn’t even acknowledge that here in his principle, he just states it as an altruistic claim. Two are better than one.

In the least this principle stands in contrast to the culture we live in whichi focuses on the power of ONE, many people these days virtually worship privacy. We live in a day where there is an exaltation of the individual but God does not join us in raising up the individual in fact:

Proverbs 18:1 NKJV

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

Proverbs

It is not wise or Godly to isolate yourself from other people. In the Garden of Eden the first thing that God said is NOT good. Is that it is not good for the man to be alone, we were created for community. In both the OT and the NT that both the life of faith is to be lived out with other believers. the writer here affirms this truth by declaring that 2 are better than 1. Then He gives 4 reasons why 2 are better than 1.

REASON #1: TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE,WHEN YOU GOT TO WORK

If you go right a page or two to

Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV

If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Ecclesiastes

If you gotta dull axe it dont matter how hard you swing you are not gonna get much done. The principle is work smarter not harder. But in chapter 4:9 gives us a practical way to wrok smarter.

It is this: DO NOT WORK ALONE

Ecc

Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

The assumption of the text is that one works hard to succeed, the picture here is not of one who sits in a cubical all day wasting time goofing off watching the clock waiting to get off work. There are some people who spend all day at work trying to figure out ways not to work until they get off work.

But thats not what the writer is talking about here, he uses an agricultural picture here. That describes a laborer in the field and he toils and he works to the point of exhaustion because if he does not labor there will be no harvest. He dont need to be prodded to work he knows that if he doesnt toil and labor his family will starve.

So the assumption of the text is that it takes hard work to be successful, and that doesnt matter that you refer to in life it stays the same. Getting an education is hard work, establishing a successful career is hard work, nurturing a successful marriage is hard work.

Raising responsible children requires hard work, developing meaningful relationships requires hard work, doing the work of the Lord requires hard work. The assumption is that hard work is required for success but the command of the text is that the hard work will pay off all the more if you are wise enough to not work by yourself.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 HCSB

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.

How much more can the people of God accomplish much in His name if we would just work together you haven’t seen what God can do in your life until you learn how to hook up with other people, and humble yourself enough to be in spiritual partnership with other people.

2 are better than 1 when you go to work

REASON # 2: WHEN YOU FALL DOWN

verse 9 paints the picture of a laborer in the field but 10-12 makes the point through the picture of a traveler on the road.

Specifically verse 10 confrots us with a threat that anyone and everyone faces who dares to stand up and face the problem. Heres the problem you may fall down. If I was writing this I would write it this way: WHEN YOU FALL DOWN

But here in 10 Solomon speaks about a possible scenario IF they fall but the wording does not lessen the truth at all. IT DONT MATTER WHO YOU ARE IN HERE FRIEND YOU MAY FALL, I dont care how expereinced you are at walking you may fall. I dont care how skilled you are at walking YOU MAY FALL, I dont care how careful you are at walking YOU MAY FALL.

1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians

The one who is most prone to fall is the one who thinks he or she is standing so firmly that they cannot fall. This is why you better be slow about pointing the finger and laughing at other people YOU MAY FALL. This is why you ought never says well that would never happen to me YOU TOO MAY FALL.

This is what 10 is all about

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 4:10 ESV

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!

He doesn’t talk about the manner of the fall you cna fall different ways:

Your not careful

your on a slippery place

Because your enemy pushes you down

But the writer doesnt care about the nature of the fall he focuses on the reality of the fall YOU MAY FALL. If they fall, watch him go from bad to worse. (Read text)

He is saying here not only may you fall but you can fall so low and so hard that you cant get up on your own. This is not about a slip and stumble, this is about a total collapse. In life you can fall so low so fast that you wont know what happened, and you wont be able to get up by yourself. NONE OF US ARE EXEMPT FROM FAILURE thats what He is saying. None of us are walking so firmly that we can be confident that we will never fall, ALL OF US MAY FALL AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER.

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

He says brothers and sisters those of you who are on your way to Heaven you can be caught in a trespass you can be overtaken in a fall, you can stumble into an open manhole and fall into sudden sin. It CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY IN THE CHURCH. This is why the church ought to be marked by mercy, to most spiritually mature person in this room is still capable of the most heinous sin.

(REREAD)

He says you who are spiritual meaning there are some in the church who aint spiritual… there are some selfish carnal people in the church and as a result when a person falls you ought to put up some caution tape and keep some people away from the scene lest they make the matter worse.

But ye that are spiritual should step in and restore such a one, the word restore means to fix a broken bone it means to mend a broken neck. You mend a broken bone and mend a broken neck for the same reason because you intend to use it again.

He said you ougth to restore such a one, He says if sombody falls the business of the church is RESTORATION NOT AMPUTATION Restore!

2 are better than one when you go to work, 2 are better than one when you fall down,

REASON #3: WHEN YOU ARE IN THE COLD

Most of the time this passage is used to apply to marriage and it seems to make sense 2 are better than 1 when you get to verse 11 commentators say well certainly this is talking about marriage.

Ecclesiastes 4:11 NKJV

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

To keep this from sounding like something illicit commentators say well this is speaking about marriage, but marriage is not mentioned anywhere in the text. While I’m here some of these commentators need to stop trying to protect the Bible the Bible dont need your protection.

“YOU DONT DEFEND A LION YOU JUST LET HIM LOOSE HE WILL DEFEND HIMSELF” Spurgeon

Theres nothing illicit being mentioned here this is about a traveler he is on a long journey The night catches him it is cold and dark, there is no inn in sight, or maybe he is not around a house which sould provide shelter for the night.

So he must sleep out in the elements and it is so cold in the darkness of the night that he may freeze in those elements, sure he may have on a coat and tunic, but the elements are so severe that they are not enough. His hope of survival changes though if he is walking with someone and in the elements they can lie down next to one another and the body heat can keep one another warm.

In verse 10 the writer is saying you need fellowship when you fall, but now in verse 11 he is saying you need fellowship so you dont freeze. the idea is LIFE CAN LEAVE YOU IN THE COLD,

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 ESV

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!

Ecclesiastes 4:11 HCSB

Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?

LIFE CAN LEAVE YOU OUT IN THE COLD HEAR ME YOU DONT HAVE TO ON THE WRONG ROAD TO BE IN THE COLD, YOU CAN BE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND FIND YOURSELF IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES YOU CANT SURVIVE ALL BY YOURSELF.

The writer says 2 are better than one because you got somebody to lay with you and keep you warm when your out in the difficult elements.

WHEN YOU GO TO WORK

WHEN YOU FALL DOWN

WHEN YOUR IN THE COLD

Finally

REASON #4: WHEN YOU ARE IN A FIGHT

is the parable of the good samaritan the good Samaritan stops to help the man in need but the focus is on the man in need. He is traveling down the Jericho road many robbers and thieves would hang out there. He is apprentlyjumped by robbers who steal his good beat him and leave him for dead. This is the picture of verse 12

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Two are better than one because there will be times in life where you will be attacked. You will suffer personal attacks. Sometimes youll be attacked by people you dont even know, theres folk that dont like you that dont even know you. They have never had a conversation with you, you aint never been around them enough to do anything to them good or bad.

they just done heard some stuff about you and have drawn some conclusions about you, some people just dont like the way you look and you can find yourself attacked by people you dont even know.

WORSE you can be attacked by people that you know really well, I mean its folks thats supposed to be walking with you, youve had those people right? Those people youve done helped you done been there for them, youve shared your heart and you think yall on the same page walking together and people who should be on your side can end up attacking you.

Then you’ll suffer spiritual attacks, this is true of all of us who follow JEsus Christ listen we have an enemy of the soul.

Ephesians

Ephesians

Ephesians 6:1 HCSB

Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right.

THE DEVIL AND HIS SATANIC FORCES WORK TOGETHER TO UNDERMINE AND OVERTHROW YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST SO THERE WILL TIMES WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOUR FAITH WILL FIND ITSELF IN A FIGHT FOR ITS LIFE!

I just don’t understand when I was in the world I never had issues but now Im trying to do right and there’s trouble around every corner WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IT MAY HAVE BEEN EASIER WHEN YOU WAS IN THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU WERE ALREADY ON THE DEVILS SIDE HE HAD YOU NOW THAT YOUR WALKING WITH THE LORD YOU GOT MORE TROUBLE BECAUSE THE DEVIL SEES YOU AS A THREAT TO HIS KINGDOM.

You better be concerned if the devil aint on your trail, they used to say that if you never run into the devil it just means you just going in the same direction!

Do you have an accountability partner?

The best decision you will ever make is to not walk this road alone.

(Let’s pray)