Written by Paul J Bucknell on January, 03, 2019

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 The Structure

The Structure of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

The Structure

The main point is found in verse 9. “Two are better than one because one gains a better return for their hard work.” Each of the other verses, 10, 11 and 12 all start with the word ‘if’ and its conditional clause. They serve as illustrations and reemphasize the main point. So let us think through a bit why Solomon said this phrase after his long and seemingly productive life. We must remember that Solomon had it all. He reached the zenith in this world.

Solomon concludes from all that he has observed that two are better than one. What makes him say this? Truly, if anybody was not lonely, it was not Solomon with all his wives and concubines. Truly, if anybody was not productive, it was not Solomon with his world renown projects including buildings and parks. Truly, if anybody was not wealthy enough to do what he wanted, it was not Solomon with his massive fortress of wealth where gold was as common as silver. Truly, if anybody could impress others with his wisdom, it was not Solomon, was it? Withstanding all this, Solomon concluded, “The two are better than one.” Why? What was he saying?

Solomon admits to having missed out on the best of life despite the success he seemed to possess. He seemed to have everything but confessed that his dream became a nightmare of emptiness. In this little saying, Solomon revealed that he had missed out on a good and essential part of his life.

A Definition of Independent Success

When one looks back on one’s life, life will not consist of projects, plans, and pleasure. They are important but not the most important part of life. They certainly should not be what one builds his life upon. Solomon repeatedly states that which seems important at the moment but does not deliver its promised rewards. “Thus, I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

Most people will forget what you have done. You might forget too! What seems so important right now will become irrelevant with time. Once a person completes his degree, it becomes less and less important. Once the opening of the architecture’s prized building passes by, his importance is whittled away. It is much more accurate to see that these life situations only provide the context in which one lives out his life.

One might be busy with this startup while another is establishing a career as a doctor, housewife, businessman or missionary. Each task is important when God calls you to it, but the task only dictates the place in which you are to serve. The context is rather incidental. Many have been confused by this and thought the task is the race itself. “I need to be a doctor to be successful.” This is why, I believe, Solomon looks back and sees that his independent pursuit of success hurt many people, families, churches, and countries.

Before describing this mindset further, let me more clearly define what I mean by independent success. This is the highway of the world which in many cases runs right through the church.

By independent, I mean that people are on their own. They might have others around them. They might even be married or belong to a cell group, but they pursue their lone plan. They are the only ones that really know the plan and thrust of their lives. Other people around them are, in this sense, only arbitrary. They are inconsequential except that they can help serve the purpose of helping one attain his or her goals. In the world’s harsh language, one could say, “They are out for themselves.” This can be translated to mean that relationships come second.

By success, a person believes that the accomplishment of a series of activities is extremely important for their lives. They not only want success; they are driven to succeed. In their eyes, that success defines their worth as a person. We might think of a young Ph.D. student who is driven by this idea of success. He has adopted his parents’ perspective that meaning in life comes from having a high education and its associated benefits. He believes he can only fit in if he reaches these goals. If he doesn’t succeed, he would rather not think about it. At least, he tries not to. Failure would mean rejection by his peers and perhaps more importantly by his family. This spirit of independent success is so strong that it devastates those infected by it. For now, however, let us see what this independent success looks like in our daily life.

Descriptions of Independent Success

Consider four life descriptions of independent success.
The individual who believes that the meaning of life stems from the pursuit of these things will be devastated one way or the other. If he does not meet up with these goals, he will be ruined, but if he does, he will discover they are meaningless. For the time being, these things are singularly important to him, and life has no meaning apart from these things. This is why some people commit suicide. They failed and felt as if they have no worth.

Those who are still convinced of the value of pursuing these goals are desperate to win. Their whole life is devoted to achieving these things. They are willing to use the wrong means to gain them if necessary. They are willing to hurt others if it comes down to it. It brings fierce competition. A person runs into situations where the coldness of competition can be felt. Ecclesiastes 4:4 says, “And I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:4). And if they succeed in achieving those things, filled with pride, they disdain others. 
Those who are driven toward achievement cannot see how they hurt their families. Some spouses may live apart. They believe that their achievement is more important than their marriage and their children. In most cases, they will not say this but that they are doing it for their children, their parents, etc.

I am not speaking about short periods of time, of course. But those that sacrifice their families in this way cannot even begin to think about the consequences on the family. In reality, it does not matter to them. Success is too important! Can you sense the independent spirit of such a life? Though having a family, they find meaning in life in achieving some goal rather than in having great relationships. Their strong belief in what they are doing sets them up for a deluded pursuit. They have not learned from Solomon’s life.

Many families have been ruined by such a spirit. One would think that those with a spirit of independent success would see the problem, but their ambition blinds them. Divorce is common in such situations, and confused children are the result. Children have come to hate their parents because of this life pursuit. They can see through the materialism that causes them to miss the much-needed love. What is the sense of having things if one does not have love? Even if a person professes to be a Christian, if he devotes himself to independent success, he too will fail. 
Many a church is filled with this kind of ambitious leader. If they have not dealt with their ambition and pride, then they will run the church in the same way they run their lives. When I visit different cities or even look at the churches in our own city, I see strife and self-ambition in the church. They tell others, and themselves that their goal is for the Lord.

They believe they know what is right for the church. This pursuit becomes all-consuming. The silly thing about all of this is that it is ostentatiously done in the name of the Lord. They are convinced that they are making sacrifices for the Lord, but in fact, they are allowing the evil one to ruin God’s beautiful plans. They are convinced that they are called to preserve God’s vision by taking fifty people and starting their own church. I could tell you many a story, but they are all very sad.

These leaders are insensitive to how God wants things done. They only focus on the end results and disregard the importance of those around them. Their goal stands as the most important thing in life. They are deluded. Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “Love one another?” Why do Christians allow building programs when doctrinal ‘purity’ and leadership styles become more important than Jesus’ command? There is a deeper passion running in their veins. They are, as Jesus says, wolves in sheep's clothing.

This destructive ambitious spirit runs through the veins of many a great leader, politician, CEO, etc. The most important thing for them is to do what is needed to get the job done. They are willing to hurt others if necessary. Behind them is a burnt-out trail of broken relationships. They don’t even see them. They never look back. When people have such a cause, then the cause consumes them. They are willing to break every code of conduct to get what they want. This independent spirit of success drives them to accomplish their goals, but in the meantime, the foundation is ruined.

Great exceptions

Before going on, I want to testify that I have seen a lot of exceptions. God wakes His people from their pursuit of life, as described above. They discover how the Lord Himself is the one who guides them. They learn that God leads them differently in obtaining goals. Goals may be obtained, but more importantly, they discover the value of what Solomon refers to as “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.” The right relationship is everything. Upright conduct is vital to life and more important than goals. Now let us consider what Ecclesiastes 2:9 actually does mean.