August 27, 2009
ROPE TEAMS
Ecclesiastes 4
Chris Fulmer
Central Truth
Community is a key element to our success as Christians.
Key Verse | Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
Two people are better than one,
because they can reap more benefit from their labor.
For if they fall, one will help his companion up,
but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
Ecclesiastes 4
Evil Under the Sun
1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
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 1 4:4 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2) and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
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.
13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that 2 4:15 Hebrew the second youth who was to stand in the king's 3 4:15 Hebrew his place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Dive Deeper | Ecclesiastes 4
Last year, I had the opportunity to scale Mt. Rainier with a group of friends. While standing on the summit at 14,410 feet is something that I will never forget, I also took many lessons away from that climb. One of those lessons was the value of a good rope team.
In mountaineering you always travel though the tough sections of the mountain roped to the climber in front of or behind you. Traveling in this rope team ensures that another climber can help you if you get into difficulty.
It is God’s intention for us to travel through life in “rope teams” as well. These teams often take the form of a community group, a friendship, or a marriage. In fact, God created us so that we could journey through life together. Think back to the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden. God saw Adam in the garden all by himself and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” (Genesis 2:18)
Solomon develops this theme in Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 by examining several common situations: occupation, manual labor, warmth, defense, etc. In all these circumstances, he observes that it's better not to try to go it alone. Then Solomon ends this section by making another case for a rope team by using an illustration of . . . a rope! "Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
For a climber on his own, a fall might prove fatal, especially on a tough section of the mountain. The climber with a strong rope team, however, has someone there to catch him when he falls, help him up when he stumbles, or guide him to safety when he loses his way. As travelers in this journey of life, we also need people around us to catch us when we fall, help us avoid things that make us stumble, and guide us with wisdom when we stray off the correct path.
Climb well, my friends!
Discussion Questions
1. Who is on your “rope team”? Are you plugged in to a community of friends who can help you along the way?
2. Why do you think God wants us to travel through life together?
3. What are a few of the times in your life when you have benefited from the help of others around you?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult for us to travel through life with others?