The Relationships You Need

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This is one of the most positive sections in Ecclesiastes. Some of it (vv. 9–12) is often read at weddings.

The Teacher begins by stating another meaningless experience. It is a person who is alone and has nothing but his work. Gaining wealth through work is everything. There is no end to this work; it doesn’t bring contentment or joy. In fact, living like this is a miserable business (vv. 1–8). The Teacher is not saying work is bad. In other places he says to find satisfaction in your work. What is bad is making work for wealth the primary purpose of life. Work like that is meaningless.

For you are not meant to be alone. Humans are made for relationship (Genesis 2:18). The Teacher simply says two are better than one (v. 9) and then gives four reasons why.

First, is synergy (v. 9). Think of the acronym TEAM: Together Everyone Accomplishes More. You get more done with others than by yourself.
Second, is help in time of need (v. 10). He uses the simple idea of falling down. We all fall down in life (or are knocked down) and we all need a helping hand to get back on our feet.

Third, is warmth on a cold night (v. 11). And fourth, is protection (v. 12). We all need someone who will have our back as we have their back. And if two are good for this, three are even better. Christians also tend to see the third person as the presence of God with them.

Isolation, loneliness, disconnection, and too much social distancing are all bad for us. We are relational beings. We need others and we need to be there for others.