Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
The opening line sets the stage with a statement of fact: “Two are better than one.” If you are married (especially if you are happily married) and read these words, you probably think that this means marriage. But marriage is never once mentioned in this section. This is for people who are humans on this lonely earth wondering how to survive in our “dog-eat-dog” culture of ragged-edge reality. He says: “Two are better than one [and then he tells us why] because they have a good return for their labour” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NASB). The Living Bible puts it even more simply, “The results can be much better.”
We gain perspective by having somebody at our side. We gain objectivity. We gain courage in threatening situations. Having others near tempers our dogmatism and softens our intolerance. We gain another opinion. We gain what today, in our technical world, is called “input.”
In other words, it is better not to work or live one’s life all alone. It’s better not to minister all alone. It’s better to have someone alongside us in the battle. For that reason, during my days in the Marines, we were taught that if the command “dig in” were issued, we should dig a hole large enough for two.
After making the statement, Solomon takes the time to spell out why. He mentions three reasons. I’ll cover the first today and the other two tomorrow.
Mutual Encouragement When We Are Weak. “If either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion” (4:10 NASB). In times of personal failure, in times when we would be ensnared, when we could easily stumble or become entrapped (not “if,” but “when “), when we fall on our faces, when we have gotten into trouble, we need a companion to keep us from getting too bruised and bloody. And that companion will not walk away. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. Isn’t that great?
