Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Exceedingly practical advice from Solomon, wearing his preacher’s robes, dispensing the basic wisdom that there’s safety in numbers, and our strong need for help and support. ‘Two are better than one…’ except when it causes strife, ‘because they have a good reward for their labour.’ In most cases two people can accomplish much more than one in the same time frame. But an even better reason for two people working together, is the capability of one person to lift the other up, if one falls. As Sol laments: ‘but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.’ Yes Friends, many times when we fall, we’re either too tired, broken or defeated to get up on our own, and we need a helping hand. Unfortunately though, on this troubled planet, there are innumerable people with no one to help them up when they fall, neither, physically, emotionally or spiritually. That’s just so sad Friends, since no man is an island, none of us can do it all on our own, although lots of us try. And even when we accomplish much, without someone to share it, there’s always an empty space, something missing in our lives, because God made us to need others. Hn, hn! The next line has always been a favourite of mine; the way Sol uses a simple, practical aspect we all understand, to point out our deep seated need for each other, and I just love the way he phrases it. ‘Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?’ Indeed Friends; How can one be warm alone eh? With man made heat I guess. But there’s some thing about the heat of a human body, that heat, from no other source, can ever truly replicate. It’s a heat that…that warms, I guess, not burns, that radiates a sort of wellbeing in our souls. And even with plenty man made heat available, the addition of human body heat always enhances the situation. It’s just different. I call it the warmth of God’s LOVE built into us. Notice the comfort and warmth received and given in hugging and snuggling; the sudden peace and calm that comes over a crying baby when it’s rocked or cuddled. That’s just another way, God, in His infinite wisdom, moulded us; to need help, comfort and support from each other. ‘And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’ Words of wisdom Sol! Two people will usually prevail against one attacker, while the more strands in a rope, the stronger it is. And the moral of the story? Simply to work together; encourage, help, support, lift up, energize each other. That’s why God made us incomplete, so that we’d need other humans and Him. We’re supposed to share, give comfort and succour to our fellow humans; recognize the need in others and try to fill it. Friends, our basic purpose is to provide help to the helpless; however we can. Much LOVE!…let’s make our Father proud…let’s help each other…
Exceedingly practical advice from Solomon, wearing his preacher’s robes, dispensing the basic wisdom that there’s safety in numbers, and our strong need for help and support. ‘Two are better than one…’ except when it causes strife, ‘because they have a good reward for their labour.’ In most cases two people can accomplish much more than one in the same time frame. But an even better reason for two people working together, is the capability of one person to lift the other up, if one falls. As Sol laments: ‘but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.’ Yes Friends, many times when we fall, we’re either too tired, broken or defeated to get up on our own, and we need a helping hand. Unfortunately though, on this troubled planet, there are innumerable people with no one to help them up when they fall, neither, physically, emotionally or spiritually. That’s just so sad Friends, since no man is an island, none of us can do it all on our own, although lots of us try. And even when we accomplish much, without someone to share it, there’s always an empty space, something missing in our lives, because God made us to need others. Hn, hn! The next line has always been a favourite of mine; the way Sol uses a simple, practical aspect we all understand, to point out our deep seated need for each other, and I just love the way he phrases it. ‘Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?’ Indeed Friends; How can one be warm alone eh? With man made heat I guess. But there’s some thing about the heat of a human body, that heat, from no other source, can ever truly replicate. It’s a heat that…that warms, I guess, not burns, that radiates a sort of wellbeing in our souls. And even with plenty man made heat available, the addition of human body heat always enhances the situation. It’s just different. I call it the warmth of God’s LOVE built into us. Notice the comfort and warmth received and given in hugging and snuggling; the sudden peace and calm that comes over a crying baby when it’s rocked or cuddled. That’s just another way, God, in His infinite wisdom, moulded us; to need help, comfort and support from each other. ‘And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’ Words of wisdom Sol! Two people will usually prevail against one attacker, while the more strands in a rope, the stronger it is. And the moral of the story? Simply to work together; encourage, help, support, lift up, energize each other. That’s why God made us incomplete, so that we’d need other humans and Him. We’re supposed to share, give comfort and succour to our fellow humans; recognize the need in others and try to fill it. Friends, our basic purpose is to provide help to the helpless; however we can. Much LOVE!…let’s make our Father proud…let’s help each other…
SCRIP-BITS 