WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?
Pastor KC Liu / Ecc 4: -12 / Oct 18, 2015
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7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless-- a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
Good morning! How are you all doing? If you are a visitor here with us today, we are preaching through the book of Ecclesiastes. This is part 5 of our 12-part series. Let’s review a little bit. Last week in part 4, my wife Amy preached that there are three bad things in the world. What are they? (Here’s a hint: it starts with W.O.E.) Wickedness, Oppression, and Envy! What advice does King Solomon give for responding to these awful things? He is saying, “Hey, don’t slave away in ruthless competition with your neighbors. Stop comparing the size of your houses and your cars. Stop trying to out do each other because that is born out of envy. Instead, enjoy your work, enjoy your life now, today. Be content with what you have. enjoy the fruit you bear with peace and quietness.” That’s some really good advice. Now, let’s move on to today’s message, “What are Friends For?” from Ecclesiastes 4:7-16.
"Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:" Remember from the first day of this series: the Hebrew word for 'meaningless' is 'hevel'. It can also be translated into vapor, or breath. So essentially, many things are considered meaningless because they doesn’t last long. They may be great while they last, but they're gone so quickly that there' s no actual benefit.
King Solomon has already taught us in the first three chapters that when you use your time and energy to chase after money, sex, fame, even education and wisdom, they are all meaningless because they only last for a moment. How short is a moment? It can be anywhere from 6 minutes, to 6 months, to 60 years. But in light of eternity, even 60 years is a blink of an eye. Older people will tell you, “I can believe time flew by so fast.” These things that you think are important will be in your hands like a cold breath. Here one second, gone the next. So Solomon observes yet another thing that is meaningless…
"There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil," Solomon is describing a lone ranger, a person always doing things by himself. He has no companions, no friends, no family. Solomon says he has no sons and no brothers. This refers to the two closest male relatives who might benefit from his toil through inheritance. This person has cut off his closest relationships in order to concentrate on the single goal of his life: to make as much money as he can for himself. This man is afflicted with his unquenchable desire for money, and he is consumed by his work. He will put in 60-90 hours of work every week, often neglecting his parents, wife and kids.
"6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." You see, you have two hands. You use one hand to make money, and you got one free hand. What do you do with it? Make more money? Or use the other hand to hold your wife and kids? Do you want to have peace in your heart and mind, and have a loving family? I hope so. But if you use both hands to make money, you have no hands for your family. The result of that is what? No peace, no quietness, and you will toil for the rest of your life. Whatever you choose to do with your hands, that’s your choice. But Solomon is urging you to make the wiser choice. For some of you, maybe it’s time to free up a hand. Free up some time, for your family and friends.
The truth is, if you don’t make that wiser choice, you will end up like this man at the end of your life and will cry out in your heart like in verse 8. "yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless-- a miserable business!" His question to himself is rhetorical; the expected answer is, “no one.” There are no friends, no family, no one who can benefit from all his riches. He doesn’t have sons or brothers that can inherit his estate. He is all alone. And he does not even benefit himself, for he says he is depriving himself of pleasure.
He finds no pleasure in life because he is alone. He finds no pleasure in work because he has become a slave to the rat race. He finds no pleasure in eating and drinking because he hardly takes time to eat and drink. He finds no pleasure in rest because he is driven by toil and has little time to rest. Therefore, he says, it’s all so meaningless and depressing. This reminds me of a wise quote by the Chinese philosopher Confucius. Maybe you have heard of his wisdom. "Man who run in front of bus get tired; man who run behind bus get exhausted." I’m Sorry, that was a cheesy joke! Moving on!
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:" Here we see the contrast between a lone ranger and a person who has companions. Solomon is helping us discern something important. He says “two are better than one.” But when it comes to riches, Solomon says, more is not better. No, not when it costs you your family and friends. But when it comes to meaningful relationships, more is better.
These pictures show the older brother lying down so that his little sister can get across the gutters without falling in. The perfect illustration of “Two is better than one.” Next, Solomon will prove his point with 3 of his own illustrations.
"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" Here the context that Solomon is talking about is people traveling in the Middle East. This can be dangerous, especially on dark nights. There were no street lights. Heck, there were no actual streets. They didn’t have flashlights either. They would walk on trails that frequently followed the edges of ravines, which were deep, narrow pits. It’s easy for people to stumble and fall down the side. In those hunting days, they also dug big pits to trap animals and covered them up with leaves. So it’s extra dangerous if you are not familiar with the territory. This fact is also reinforced by Jesus in the New Testament
.
Jesus told a parable about the danger of falling into these pits. He asked, “Can a blind man guide a blind man? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39) That is why “two are better than one.” So what are friends for? Friends can help pick each other up when we fall, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have a friend to help.
"Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" Solomon’s second illustration also is in the context of dangers traveling in the Middle East. Travelers often spent the night outdoors. In the story of Jacob and Esau, when Jacob was escaping from his brother’s anger, he traveled north until the sun had set. Then he slept outdoors with a stone for a pillow (Gen 28:11). But how does one keep warm on a cold night? People didn’t carry sleeping bags or blankets. All they had for a covering was their cloak. Did you know that’s what Jedis wear? They had Jedi cloaks. They probably got their inspiration from the Middle East. Anyways, on cold nights a cloak was not enough. So people would lie together, sharing their cloaks and their body heat. So what are friends for? Friends can lie together and “keep warm”. They can keep you physically warm. They can also warm your heart, and warm your soul when you need it the most. Guys, please don’t take this verse out of context and use it on your girlfriends. Don’t say, “Hey babe, Solomon said it.” Don’t do that. However, we can apply it to a marriage relationship between husband and wife keeping warm together.
From the very beginning of Creation, in the Garden of Eden, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a helper as his partner” (Gen 2:18). You see, God created us to belong in community, not as lone rangers. God designed us in a way that if we are alone, we will feel lonely. That’s why many people cry themselves to sleep, because they are lonely. Human beings are hardwired with an intense desire for companionship and friendship.
In a marriage relationship, there are many advantages of a husband and wife working together. They complement each other in running the household. In raising a family, one person has to be the nice guy, and one has to be the disciplinarian. You who are married know what I am talking about and you know exactly which one you are. Also, married couples get to have fun, enjoying life together in retirement. Research today shows that married couples, in contrast to singles, tend to live longer and are healthier throughout those extra years.
For those of you who are afraid of getting married for whatever reason, give your fears to God. He will help you. For those of you who have a calling to remain single for the sake of focusing on God’s work, be at peace with your calling. But also be deeply rooted in a community that cares for you.
Also, I want to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to Kevin and Lisa, who just got engaged this Thursday! We want to say congratulations on this great milestone of your journey together! Let’s give them a hand! May you keep each other warm in your hearts, your souls, and your spirits. I included Herald in there because he looks so good in this picture!
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves." Solomon’s third illustration is also taken from the dangers of traveling in the Middle East. When people traveled away from the safety of towns and cities, there was the danger of robbers who roamed the countryside. Think of Jesus’ parable about a man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho. “He fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead” (Luke 10:30). If you walk by yourself, a robber will likely be able to overcome you. But if you walk in groups of two or more, a robber will not be able to overcome both of you. We apply this on our Friday nights; treks and kids cannot walk alone and cross the street. They must walk in groups of threes. Not that they can’t discern the cars coming, but to prevent robbery and kidnapping. It happens more often then we think. So what are friends for? Friends are there to protect each other from physical danger.
Friends also protect you from verbal danger, such as slander and accusations by others. Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? But no matter what you say it doesn’t make a difference? This is when you need your friend to stand by you. They testify to your character and your goodness when you get into trouble. They are an eye witness to who you are.
In the New Testament, Jesus instructed his followers, “If you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” Jesus is teaching us to be wise' have friends who know you well. You will need them to be by your side in times of trouble.
"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Solomon’s reference to a three-fold cord alludes to a well-known Near Eastern proverb concerning the benefits of friendship. A single cord is easily broken. It cannot survive a fall, cannot keep warm on a cold night, and cannot withstand a robber. But two cords combined are much stronger. But three cords woven together are even better! It will be very difficult to break this strong cord. Essentially, Solomon says that 1 is not a good number. 2 and 3 are much better numbers. It’s not that 2 and 3 are magic numbers. What Solomon is saying is that there is strength in numbers. 4 and 5 are better too, better than 1 for sure.
In 2014, the two teams that went to the NBA Finals were the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. Let me ask you, who is arguably the best player on the court? Even though we don’t like to admit it, it’s probably Lebron James. If King James played one-on-one with anyone in the Spurs, he would probably dominate with ease. But we all know who won the 2014 Championships. It was the Spurs; they killed the Heat 4-1. What was the deciding factor for their victory? It was because the Spurs played as a team. Miami relied on King James as an individual to carry their team. So in a way, they were playing 5 on 1. I don’t care how good King James is, he cannot play against 5 people at a time. The point is, there is strength in numbers. A three-fold cord is really tough. So in the same logic, a five-fold cord would be almost unbreakable.
Right now I want to talk a little bit about Bible interpretation. Early-church theologian Ambrose wrote that Solomon is actually writing about Jesus in these verses of Ecclesiastes - that Jesus is the one who lifts up his friends, and warms them, and protects them. Another ancient theologian Jerome wrote that what Solomon meant by the 3-cord strand is the relationship within the Trinity: one God in 3 persons. And Matthew Henry in his commentary wrote that when two love birds come together in marriage, Christ will come by His spirit to them and make the third cord, thus strengthening their marriage. While those interpretations do make some sense, I am pretty sure that they were not Solomon’s original intent. Why? Because Solomon did not have the revelation of the Trinity. He also didn’t know that Jesus was going to be born 1000 years later. So these theologians interpreted out of context.
But if there was no context, these phrases by themselves would make sense. This is called allegorical interpretation. It’s not the best way to interpret scripture because it’s not the author’s original intent. But, the Bible as a whole does support this idea, just in a different context. That’s why some theologians use allegorical interpretation; it does contains some elements of truth. So I will borrow the words of our High schoolers here, “they don't sound quite right, but they are not wrong!”
What we can do is refer to the New Testament for the similar lessons. For example, when Jesus came to this earth, he could have been a solitary figure. He could have preached the gospel and performed miracles by himself, but he didn’t. He gathered disciples around himself, and he did life with them 24/7. Jesus demonstrated that even God the Son desired friendship. God created us to be with one another. And in the same way, when Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the gospel, he sent them 2 by 2. Why was that? Can’t one gifted, anointed evangelist preach the gospel? Why two? He could have sent the other one to another city. According to Solomon, the benefits of their friendship are survival, warmth, and protection.
In conclusion: Solomon is challenging us not to work just by and for ourselves, but to work humbly with and for others. To go at life alone is futile, it’s meaningless. To work together is better; it will benefit your life in great ways. Jesus also urges us not to live for ourselves but to “love our neighbor[s] as ourselves” (Matt 22:39). Paul says that we are all members of one body; we cannot go it alone but must work together. “The eyes cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you. Nor again the head to the feet, I don’t need you” (1 Cor 12;21). Paul is saying, we need each other, no matter how messy it gets. And I know it gets messy. People get hurt when they open themselves up. Nevertheless, trust that God will take care of you as you obey his commands.
The fact is, all of our individual accomplishments will be forgotten in the future. All our trophies in the living room, all our diplomas on the wall, all the money in our bank - we can’t take them with us to heaven. Therefore, we don’t put our self-worth and identities in our trophies and in our wealth. It’s sinking sand. But rather, what we do together for God’s Kingdom will last forever. Paul encourages us, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord, your work is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58) The work of the Lord is not in vain, not like a breath, not like vapor - It will not disappear quickly. The work of the Lord will last forever; it is true riches in the kingdom to come.
This morning, I would like to make 3 invitations to respond. First invitation: if you consider yourself a lone ranger, I believe God wants you to commit yourself to making a couple of good friends. If you are not plugged into a regular small group, I would encourage you to do so. Take the wisdom of Solomon. Realize that there will be seasons of winter in your life where you will fall, stumble, feel lonely and sad. It is at those times where your friends in small group will be there for you, pick you back up, keep you warm, and protect you from harm. If you would like to say yes to this, tell God in your heart right now. I will give you a moment to pray.
Second invitation: there is a group of you, you believe in God, and you have good friends. Yet, you do not get involved in the work of the Lord. Statistically, 4 out of 5 Christians do nothing in terms of God’s work. Perhaps you are distracted and preoccupied with your own things. I want to invite you to invest your time in the work of the Lord. It’s the only thing that will last through eternity. If that is you, respond to God in your heart right now.
Third and final invitation. And it’s the most important invitation of all. For some of you, you might have many good friends already, but you do not truly know Jesus as your Savior and friend. If that is the case, I invite you to surrender your life to God right now, repent of your sins, and make Jesus the Lord and master of your life. Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” You can know him personally today. Your sins can be forgiven. You will go to heaven when you die. Will you make that commitment? If that’s you, Respond to God in your heart right now.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. If you responded to any of the 3 invitations, could you just quickly raise your hands? I would like to pray for you.
"Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:" Remember from the first day of this series: the Hebrew word for 'meaningless' is 'hevel'. It can also be translated into vapor, or breath. So essentially, many things are considered meaningless because they doesn’t last long. They may be great while they last, but they're gone so quickly that there' s no actual benefit.
King Solomon has already taught us in the first three chapters that when you use your time and energy to chase after money, sex, fame, even education and wisdom, they are all meaningless because they only last for a moment. How short is a moment? It can be anywhere from 6 minutes, to 6 months, to 60 years. But in light of eternity, even 60 years is a blink of an eye. Older people will tell you, “I can believe time flew by so fast.” These things that you think are important will be in your hands like a cold breath. Here one second, gone the next. So Solomon observes yet another thing that is meaningless…
"There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil," Solomon is describing a lone ranger, a person always doing things by himself. He has no companions, no friends, no family. Solomon says he has no sons and no brothers. This refers to the two closest male relatives who might benefit from his toil through inheritance. This person has cut off his closest relationships in order to concentrate on the single goal of his life: to make as much money as he can for himself. This man is afflicted with his unquenchable desire for money, and he is consumed by his work. He will put in 60-90 hours of work every week, often neglecting his parents, wife and kids.
"6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." You see, you have two hands. You use one hand to make money, and you got one free hand. What do you do with it? Make more money? Or use the other hand to hold your wife and kids? Do you want to have peace in your heart and mind, and have a loving family? I hope so. But if you use both hands to make money, you have no hands for your family. The result of that is what? No peace, no quietness, and you will toil for the rest of your life. Whatever you choose to do with your hands, that’s your choice. But Solomon is urging you to make the wiser choice. For some of you, maybe it’s time to free up a hand. Free up some time, for your family and friends.
The truth is, if you don’t make that wiser choice, you will end up like this man at the end of your life and will cry out in your heart like in verse 8. "yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless-- a miserable business!" His question to himself is rhetorical; the expected answer is, “no one.” There are no friends, no family, no one who can benefit from all his riches. He doesn’t have sons or brothers that can inherit his estate. He is all alone. And he does not even benefit himself, for he says he is depriving himself of pleasure.
He finds no pleasure in life because he is alone. He finds no pleasure in work because he has become a slave to the rat race. He finds no pleasure in eating and drinking because he hardly takes time to eat and drink. He finds no pleasure in rest because he is driven by toil and has little time to rest. Therefore, he says, it’s all so meaningless and depressing. This reminds me of a wise quote by the Chinese philosopher Confucius. Maybe you have heard of his wisdom. "Man who run in front of bus get tired; man who run behind bus get exhausted." I’m Sorry, that was a cheesy joke! Moving on!
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:" Here we see the contrast between a lone ranger and a person who has companions. Solomon is helping us discern something important. He says “two are better than one.” But when it comes to riches, Solomon says, more is not better. No, not when it costs you your family and friends. But when it comes to meaningful relationships, more is better.
These pictures show the older brother lying down so that his little sister can get across the gutters without falling in. The perfect illustration of “Two is better than one.” Next, Solomon will prove his point with 3 of his own illustrations.
"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" Here the context that Solomon is talking about is people traveling in the Middle East. This can be dangerous, especially on dark nights. There were no street lights. Heck, there were no actual streets. They didn’t have flashlights either. They would walk on trails that frequently followed the edges of ravines, which were deep, narrow pits. It’s easy for people to stumble and fall down the side. In those hunting days, they also dug big pits to trap animals and covered them up with leaves. So it’s extra dangerous if you are not familiar with the territory. This fact is also reinforced by Jesus in the New Testament
.
Jesus told a parable about the danger of falling into these pits. He asked, “Can a blind man guide a blind man? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39) That is why “two are better than one.” So what are friends for? Friends can help pick each other up when we fall, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have a friend to help.
"Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" Solomon’s second illustration also is in the context of dangers traveling in the Middle East. Travelers often spent the night outdoors. In the story of Jacob and Esau, when Jacob was escaping from his brother’s anger, he traveled north until the sun had set. Then he slept outdoors with a stone for a pillow (Gen 28:11). But how does one keep warm on a cold night? People didn’t carry sleeping bags or blankets. All they had for a covering was their cloak. Did you know that’s what Jedis wear? They had Jedi cloaks. They probably got their inspiration from the Middle East. Anyways, on cold nights a cloak was not enough. So people would lie together, sharing their cloaks and their body heat. So what are friends for? Friends can lie together and “keep warm”. They can keep you physically warm. They can also warm your heart, and warm your soul when you need it the most. Guys, please don’t take this verse out of context and use it on your girlfriends. Don’t say, “Hey babe, Solomon said it.” Don’t do that. However, we can apply it to a marriage relationship between husband and wife keeping warm together.
From the very beginning of Creation, in the Garden of Eden, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a helper as his partner” (Gen 2:18). You see, God created us to belong in community, not as lone rangers. God designed us in a way that if we are alone, we will feel lonely. That’s why many people cry themselves to sleep, because they are lonely. Human beings are hardwired with an intense desire for companionship and friendship.
In a marriage relationship, there are many advantages of a husband and wife working together. They complement each other in running the household. In raising a family, one person has to be the nice guy, and one has to be the disciplinarian. You who are married know what I am talking about and you know exactly which one you are. Also, married couples get to have fun, enjoying life together in retirement. Research today shows that married couples, in contrast to singles, tend to live longer and are healthier throughout those extra years.
For those of you who are afraid of getting married for whatever reason, give your fears to God. He will help you. For those of you who have a calling to remain single for the sake of focusing on God’s work, be at peace with your calling. But also be deeply rooted in a community that cares for you.
Also, I want to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to Kevin and Lisa, who just got engaged this Thursday! We want to say congratulations on this great milestone of your journey together! Let’s give them a hand! May you keep each other warm in your hearts, your souls, and your spirits. I included Herald in there because he looks so good in this picture!
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves." Solomon’s third illustration is also taken from the dangers of traveling in the Middle East. When people traveled away from the safety of towns and cities, there was the danger of robbers who roamed the countryside. Think of Jesus’ parable about a man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho. “He fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead” (Luke 10:30). If you walk by yourself, a robber will likely be able to overcome you. But if you walk in groups of two or more, a robber will not be able to overcome both of you. We apply this on our Friday nights; treks and kids cannot walk alone and cross the street. They must walk in groups of threes. Not that they can’t discern the cars coming, but to prevent robbery and kidnapping. It happens more often then we think. So what are friends for? Friends are there to protect each other from physical danger.
Friends also protect you from verbal danger, such as slander and accusations by others. Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? But no matter what you say it doesn’t make a difference? This is when you need your friend to stand by you. They testify to your character and your goodness when you get into trouble. They are an eye witness to who you are.
In the New Testament, Jesus instructed his followers, “If you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” Jesus is teaching us to be wise' have friends who know you well. You will need them to be by your side in times of trouble.
"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Solomon’s reference to a three-fold cord alludes to a well-known Near Eastern proverb concerning the benefits of friendship. A single cord is easily broken. It cannot survive a fall, cannot keep warm on a cold night, and cannot withstand a robber. But two cords combined are much stronger. But three cords woven together are even better! It will be very difficult to break this strong cord. Essentially, Solomon says that 1 is not a good number. 2 and 3 are much better numbers. It’s not that 2 and 3 are magic numbers. What Solomon is saying is that there is strength in numbers. 4 and 5 are better too, better than 1 for sure.
In 2014, the two teams that went to the NBA Finals were the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. Let me ask you, who is arguably the best player on the court? Even though we don’t like to admit it, it’s probably Lebron James. If King James played one-on-one with anyone in the Spurs, he would probably dominate with ease. But we all know who won the 2014 Championships. It was the Spurs; they killed the Heat 4-1. What was the deciding factor for their victory? It was because the Spurs played as a team. Miami relied on King James as an individual to carry their team. So in a way, they were playing 5 on 1. I don’t care how good King James is, he cannot play against 5 people at a time. The point is, there is strength in numbers. A three-fold cord is really tough. So in the same logic, a five-fold cord would be almost unbreakable.
Right now I want to talk a little bit about Bible interpretation. Early-church theologian Ambrose wrote that Solomon is actually writing about Jesus in these verses of Ecclesiastes - that Jesus is the one who lifts up his friends, and warms them, and protects them. Another ancient theologian Jerome wrote that what Solomon meant by the 3-cord strand is the relationship within the Trinity: one God in 3 persons. And Matthew Henry in his commentary wrote that when two love birds come together in marriage, Christ will come by His spirit to them and make the third cord, thus strengthening their marriage. While those interpretations do make some sense, I am pretty sure that they were not Solomon’s original intent. Why? Because Solomon did not have the revelation of the Trinity. He also didn’t know that Jesus was going to be born 1000 years later. So these theologians interpreted out of context.
But if there was no context, these phrases by themselves would make sense. This is called allegorical interpretation. It’s not the best way to interpret scripture because it’s not the author’s original intent. But, the Bible as a whole does support this idea, just in a different context. That’s why some theologians use allegorical interpretation; it does contains some elements of truth. So I will borrow the words of our High schoolers here, “they don't sound quite right, but they are not wrong!”
What we can do is refer to the New Testament for the similar lessons. For example, when Jesus came to this earth, he could have been a solitary figure. He could have preached the gospel and performed miracles by himself, but he didn’t. He gathered disciples around himself, and he did life with them 24/7. Jesus demonstrated that even God the Son desired friendship. God created us to be with one another. And in the same way, when Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the gospel, he sent them 2 by 2. Why was that? Can’t one gifted, anointed evangelist preach the gospel? Why two? He could have sent the other one to another city. According to Solomon, the benefits of their friendship are survival, warmth, and protection.
In conclusion: Solomon is challenging us not to work just by and for ourselves, but to work humbly with and for others. To go at life alone is futile, it’s meaningless. To work together is better; it will benefit your life in great ways. Jesus also urges us not to live for ourselves but to “love our neighbor[s] as ourselves” (Matt 22:39). Paul says that we are all members of one body; we cannot go it alone but must work together. “The eyes cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you. Nor again the head to the feet, I don’t need you” (1 Cor 12;21). Paul is saying, we need each other, no matter how messy it gets. And I know it gets messy. People get hurt when they open themselves up. Nevertheless, trust that God will take care of you as you obey his commands.
The fact is, all of our individual accomplishments will be forgotten in the future. All our trophies in the living room, all our diplomas on the wall, all the money in our bank - we can’t take them with us to heaven. Therefore, we don’t put our self-worth and identities in our trophies and in our wealth. It’s sinking sand. But rather, what we do together for God’s Kingdom will last forever. Paul encourages us, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord, your work is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58) The work of the Lord is not in vain, not like a breath, not like vapor - It will not disappear quickly. The work of the Lord will last forever; it is true riches in the kingdom to come.
This morning, I would like to make 3 invitations to respond. First invitation: if you consider yourself a lone ranger, I believe God wants you to commit yourself to making a couple of good friends. If you are not plugged into a regular small group, I would encourage you to do so. Take the wisdom of Solomon. Realize that there will be seasons of winter in your life where you will fall, stumble, feel lonely and sad. It is at those times where your friends in small group will be there for you, pick you back up, keep you warm, and protect you from harm. If you would like to say yes to this, tell God in your heart right now. I will give you a moment to pray.
Second invitation: there is a group of you, you believe in God, and you have good friends. Yet, you do not get involved in the work of the Lord. Statistically, 4 out of 5 Christians do nothing in terms of God’s work. Perhaps you are distracted and preoccupied with your own things. I want to invite you to invest your time in the work of the Lord. It’s the only thing that will last through eternity. If that is you, respond to God in your heart right now.
Third and final invitation. And it’s the most important invitation of all. For some of you, you might have many good friends already, but you do not truly know Jesus as your Savior and friend. If that is the case, I invite you to surrender your life to God right now, repent of your sins, and make Jesus the Lord and master of your life. Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” You can know him personally today. Your sins can be forgiven. You will go to heaven when you die. Will you make that commitment? If that’s you, Respond to God in your heart right now.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. If you responded to any of the 3 invitations, could you just quickly raise your hands? I would like to pray for you.