Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 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! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
💙 Threefold Meadow Mist Mini-Me features:
—rounded neckline
—short, straight sleeves
—strong, spacious pockets, of course!
—soft, cool & comfy 95/5% cotton/spandex
*Because our fabric is custom printed/dyed, we recommend washing it separately the first wash or two to keep any running from occurring.
*Sizing tolerance is within an inch.
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Scripture shows us here that two are better than one—two can do more together than alone. And like we see community reflected in the Trinity—the Father, Sprit and Son—we are made for one another in the body of Christ. What a gift other believers are!
But what about that final, third cord the passage mentions?
Minister and theologian Matthew Henry helps us understand the beautiful portrait of fellowship in Christ described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
“Two together he compares to a threefold cord; for where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his Spirit come to them, and make the third, as he joined himself to the two disciples going to Emmaus, and then there is a threefold cord that can never be broken. They that dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them”.
That third cord, the one that binds the two—is Jesus.
“‘That two are better than one’, and more happy jointly than either of them could be separately, more pleased in one another than they could be in themselves only, mutually serviceable to each other's welfare, and by a united strength more likely to do good to others:
‘They have a good reward of their labour’; whatever service they do, it is returned to them another way. He that serves himself only has himself only for his paymaster, and commonly proves more unjust and ungrateful to himself than his friend, if he should serve him, would be to him; witness him that labours endlessly and yet bereaves his soul of good; he has no reward of his labour. But he that is kind to another has a good reward; the pleasure and advantage of holy love will be an abundant recompence for all the work and labour of love. Hence Solomon infers the mischief of solitude: Woe to him that is alone. He lies exposed to many temptations which good company and friendship would prevent and help him to guard against; he wants that advantage which a man has by the countenance of his friend, as iron has of being sharpened by iron.
It is good for two to travel together, for if one happen to fall, he may be lost for want of a little help. If a man fall into sin, his friend will help to restore him with the spirit of meekness; if he fall into trouble, his friend will help to comfort him and assuage his grief.
(2.) Mutual warmth. As a fellow-traveller is of use so is a bedfellow: If two lie together, they have heat. So virtuous and gracious affections are excited by good society, and Christians warm one another by provoking one another to love and to good works.
(3.) United strength. If an enemy find a man alone, he is likely to prevail against him; with his own single strength he cannot make his part good, but, if he have a second, he may do well enough: two shall withstand him. "You shall help me against my enemy, and I will help you against yours;" according to the agreement between Joab and Abishai (2 Sa. 10:11), and so both are conquerors; whereas, acting separately, both would have been conquered…In our spiritual warfare we may be helpful to one another as well as in our spiritual work; next to the comfort of communion with God, is that of the communion of saints.”
Praise God for the friends He gifts us in this earthly life that will continue into eternity through the blood of Jesus. ♥️
