THE VALUE OF WORKING TOGETHER

We’re in chapter 4 of looking at Life Lessons from Ecclesiastes. Again, this is not very optimistic literature, but if we’re
willing we can find the hope in this book. Solomon is the writer and he’s trying to find every avenue to experience pleasure and
success in life. Even though he was already king, and had amassed a fortune and was the strongest nation in the world, there was still
something fleeting.

He was trying to gain everything through his own works. It was all about Solomon, and periodically he would get his
heart and soul in order and realize it’s about God, not about him, but, that didn’t seem to last long.

At the beginning of chapter 4, Solomon spoke of oppression and the fact that it would be better if you were never born. That
would save you from suffering. Then he made several observations about working and life. And here, we will have our focus this
morning.

Solomon offers us 3 THOUGHTS ON 3 DIFFERENT MINDSETS when it comes to work. In Ecclesiastes 4:4, He wrote,
“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.”

First, is the person who is hard-working. It was natural for Solomon first to find a laborer who was working hard. For, after
all, had not the king extolled the virtues of hard work in the book of Proverbs? The man was not only busy, but he was skillful in
his work and competent in all he did. He had mastered the techniques of his trade.

So much for the worker's hands; what about his heart? It was here that Solomon had his next disappointment. The only
reason these people perfected their skills and worked hard at their jobs was to compete with others and make more money than
their neighbors. The purpose of their work was not to produce beautiful or useful products, or to help people, but to stay ahead of
the competition and survive in the battle for bread.

God did not put this "selfishness factor" into human labor; it's the result of sin in the human heart. We covet what others have;
we not only want to have those things, but we want to go beyond and have even more. Covetousness, competition, and envy often
go together. Competition is not sinful of itself, but when "being first" is more important than being honest, there will be
trouble. And because that is what often drives us, then in the end we have no contentment. And that is really what Solomon is
talking about.

When we are envious of our neighbor, our drive and motivation is based on the wrong things. In the end, he says it’s like
striving and chasing after the wind. It’s vain, it’s meaningless. We really don’t have happiness.

In 2:24, Solomon told us work is a gift from God. But like all of God’s blessings, work can also be distorted by sin. We see
this in all aspects of life. It causes us to work harder, not more productive, but harder and we end up running in vicious circles.
We get nowhere and realize how terribly unhappy we are.

Solomon says there is another option . . . In verse 5 he explained “5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.” That
doesn’t sound like a very good option either. This second approach to work shows a man who had no ambitions at all. Instead of
being extremely competitive, there are others who do not work at all. They simply fold their hands and do nothing.
 Solomon learned nothing he didn't already know: laziness is a slow comfort-able path toward self-destruction. It may be
pleasant to sleep late every morning and not have to go to work, but it's unpleasant not to have money to buy the necessities of
life.
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like
an armed man. (Pro. 6:10-11) Paul stated it bluntly: "If any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thess 3:10).

BOTH OF THESE APPROACHES TO WORK ARE WRONG. IT IS WRONG TO BASE YOUR WORK AS A
COMPETITION WITH OTHERS, SO THAT YOU BECOME ENVIOUS WHEN OTHERS HAVE SUCCESS. AND IT’S
WRONG TO BECOME SO IDLE THAT YOU ACCOMPLISH NOTHING AT ALL.

There is third approach. It’s found in the person who has learned to be content. Solomon wrote, “6 Better is a
handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.”

Here was a man whose life was balanced: he was productive in his work, but he was also careful to take time for quietness. He
did not run in the rat race, but neither did he try to run away from the normal responsibilities of life.

Why have both hands full of profit if that profit costs you your peace of mind and possibly your health? Better to have gain in
one hand and quietness in the other. When a heart is controlled by envy and rivalry, life becomes one battle after another.
Paul's instructions about money in 1 Tim 6 is applicable here, especially verse 6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Solomon was not opposed to hard work. But, if we have the wrong purpose, or wrong motivation in working hard, then that’s
wrong. Work hard, but be content with what you have. Find your satisfaction in what God provides us. Most of us want so many
others things in life that it’s hard for us to say if Jesus is even enough for us. So, we ought to live with contentment.

And we have Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 . Solomon says there’s a better way, “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? 12 And though a man might prevail
against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

SOLOMON'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE PERSON WHO LEARNED TO BE CONTENT CAUSED HIM TO
CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP AND THE VALUE OF PEOPLE DOING THINGS TOGETHER.
AND SO HE SAID, “TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE.”

Two are certainly better than one when it comes to working (v. 9) because two workers can get more done. Even when they
divide the profits, they still get a better return for their efforts than if they had worked alone. Also, it's much easier to do difficult
jobs together because one can be an encouragement to the other.

Two are better when it comes to walking (v. 10). Roads and paths in Palestine were not paved or even leveled, and there were
many hidden rocks in the fields. It was not uncommon for even the most experienced traveler to stumble and fall, perhaps break a
bone, or even fall into a hidden pit (Ex 21:33-34). How wonderful to have a friend who can help you up (or out). But if this applies to
our physical falls, how much more does it apply to those times when we stumble in our spiritual walk and need restoration?
Gal 6:1-2, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also

may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. How grateful we should be for
Christian friends who help us walk straight.”
 Two are better than one when it comes to warmth (v. 11). Two travelers camping out, or even staying in the courtyard of a
public inn, would feel the cold of the Palestinian night and need one another's warmth for comfort. The only way to be "warm
alone" is to carry extra blankets and add to your load.

Finally, two are better than one when it comes to their watch care, especially at night (v. 12). "Though one may be
overpowered, two can defend themselves" (v. 12, NIV). It was dangerous for anyone to travel alone, day or night; most people
traveled in groups for fellowship and for safety. Even David was grateful for a friend who stepped in and saved the king's life (2
Sam 21:15-17).

Solomon started with the number one (v. 8), then moved to two (v. 9), and then closed with three (v. 12). This is typical of
Hebrew literature (Prov 6:16; Amos 1:3,6,9, etc.). One cord could be broken easily; two cords would require more strength; but
three cords woven together could not be easily broken. If two travelers are better than one, then three would fare even better.
Solomon had more than numbers in mind; he was also thinking of the unity involved in three cords woven together — what a
beautiful picture of friendship!

**No matter where Solomon went, no matter what aspect of life he studied, he learned an important lesson from the Lord.
When he looked up, he saw that God was in control of life and balanced its varied experiences (3:1-8). When he looked within, he
saw that man was made for eternity and that God would make all things beautiful in their time (3:9-14). When he looked ahead, he
saw the last enemy, death. Then as he looked around (4), he understood that life is complex, difficult, and not easy to explain. One
thing is sure: No matter where you look, you see trials and problems and people who could use some encouragement.