Two are Better than One

Introduction: Defining the Pain

On this Mother’s Day I want to talk to you about something that at least half all Americans struggle with: Loneliness.

You would think with all the social media and way to connect in the world today that there would be no need for people to be lonely. The fact is social media has made the matter worse.

Loneliness has nothing to do with the amount of people around as much as it does the people that are walking with you on life’s journey. The opposite of loneliness is community. Living in community is being known and loved by those around you.

The first thing that God says of man in Genesis 2 is it is not good that man should be alone. Adam needed a companion to walk through life with.

Someone to share his victories and his struggles.

Someone to lean on when he was down.

Someone to pick him up when he falls.

Someone to celebrate and laugh with when things were good.

Sharing life with others makes life worth living.

What kind of relationships do you have in your life?

In Ecclesiastes 4 Solomon lists out 3 different types of Spirits under the sun.

1 John 4:1 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The Controlling Spirit

The Competitive Spirit

The Community Spirit

Scripture: Defining the Passage

Ecclesiastes 4:1 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.

The Controlling Spirit

The Plight of the Oppressed

No one cares about your situation.

Your problems are invisible to those around you.

Everyone is looking out for themselves.

No one is there to comfort them.

The oppressed have been oppressed on purpose.

I think about the battered wife that has no one to turn to, no one to confide in, no one to share in the struggle.

There is no one on their side.

Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 ESV

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.

Being oppressed can be worse than death.

Solomon says, It would be “Better” to have never been born.

The Power of the Oppressor

Control and selfishness drive the oppressors.

Oppression takes many forms.

How do you know that you are being oppressed?

Oppression keeps you dependent and in need.

Oppression keeps you from reaching your potential as a person or people.

Oppression keeps you as a slave instead of allowing you to serve others.

The Power of the Deliver

This was the situation when Jesus came on the seen. Most of Israel was oppressed by their own leaders which were oppressed by the Romans. There was no one to care or comfort them. Then Jesus came along. This simple man from Galilee. He heard the cries of his people and he was willing to take on their burdens even if it meant his own life.

Jesus delivers those that are oppressed.

There are many in the same boat today. Oppressed by the oppressors.

Even you might feel that no one sees, no one knows, and maybe even no one cares. But that same Jesus that took the cares of the world on his shoulders can take your cares as well.

Jesus sends the Comforter in the Holy Spirit.

When you cast your cares on Jesus he sends the Comforter in the form of his Holy Spirit. The Comforter is always with you. He never leaves you. He is always there to bear the burdens with you. You are never alone again.

There is another spirit of man that you find under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 ESV

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.

The Competitive Spirit

The Pride of Life

One of the 3 worldly loves named in 1 John 2:15-16

1 John 2:15–16 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

“Keeping up with the Joneses” was a comic strip in the New York Times created by Pop Momand in 1913 and ran until 1940. It’s about two families from opposite sides of the street trying to understand one another.

At the heart of the competitive spirit is a simple phrase: “I am better than you.”

Let the ugliness of that phrase sink in for a minute.

Our whole society, yea even the world, is based on this simple phrase.

World Wars have started from this simple phrase.

All Sports are based on this simple idea.

Parents literally fight at the ball-fields to prove this point.

Business is based on this thought.

Job interviews to find the best fit.

Salaries to reward the best people.

Lifestyles that put people in their place.

It even creeps into the church house.

I have a bigger following than you.

I have more influence than you.

“I am better than you.”

The Passion for Others

Philippians 2:3 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

There is one more spirit of mankind that Solomon uncovers.

Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 ESV

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.

The primary need of every person is to be fully known by someone else and loved for who they are.

Work was given in the context of community. We are to contribute our work to the betterment of the whole.

The Community Spirit

Two are Better than One

Ecclesiastes 4:9–11 ESV

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?

Life is meant to be shared in relationship

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Do you find yourself alone in your fight.

It’s hard to win the battle when you’re fighting alone.

Next Steps

Start a relationship with Jesus so you will never be alone.

Put your trust in him as your Lord and King.

Cast your care upon Him for he cares for you.

He will be with you through the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you.

Be a community spirit that is there to help people when they fall and in return they will be there for you as well.

Proverbs 18:24 NASB95

24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Pick out a handful of friends to which you can be a brother or sister.