Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

3. Attain your riches for practical good. Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

TEXT 4:7-12

7

Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.

8

There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure? This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

9

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

10

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.

11

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?

12

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:7-12

98.

Solomon calls the man's labor what?

99.

What motivated the man to labor so tirelessly?

100.

What did he fail to ask?

101.

Were his eyes ever satisfied with his riches?

102.

In what kind of a task was he involved?

103.

What important thing did he deprive himself of because of his labor?

104.

List the four advantages given in this section of companionship.

105.

What is the lesson taught by the cord of three strands?

106.

Do you think loneliness is an appropriate theme for this section? Discuss.

PARAPHRASE 4:7-12

I saw still another example of futility and unrewarding labor under the sun. I saw a man who lived a solitary life as he did not have a family. He had neither son nor brother. Yet, he labored endlessly and was never satisfied with the wealth he accumulated. He never stopped and asked of himself, For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of contentment? His life was lonely, empty and miserable. He experienced the affliction of the grievous task which God allows to come to men who so labor under the sun.
Two are better than one because they prove in many different ways to be an advantage to each other. One reward for laboring together is obvious: if either one falls, his companion will help him up. But consider the tragedy of the one who falls and has no one to help him up. Will his riches come to his rescue? Consider another example. If two sleep together, they keep warm; but what of the lonely man who has no wife? Can one be warm alone? In many situations where one may be overpowered by adversaries, it would be possible for two to resist such and escape unharmed. Common sense teaches that a cord of three strands is not broken quickly.

COMMENT 4:7-12

Although we suggest here that the theme is that riches should be used for practical good, there is also the theme that friends or companions may be of much greater value than wealth. These two ideas run concurrently through these verses. It is obvious that money will not bring comfort, warmth, protection, companionship, or personal satisfaction. Yet, men have always faced the temptation to accumulate wealth for wealth's sake. This illustration is justifiable in the Preacher's mind as it represents a major area of concern in every age. It was typical of those who lived when Jesus was on the earth in the flesh. Indeed it was Jesus who taught us that riches are deceitful (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). They will lead one to believe that they bring lasting fulfillment and satisfaction, while in reality no amount of riches will do that. In addition, Jesus taught that they may have an adverse effect and not only fail to satisfy but shut out or choke the very means by which one can find personal enjoyment. As the reader shall see, much of what Solomon says in the following two Chapter s simply amplifies this same theme.

Ecclesiastes 4:7 It is noteworthy that he labels such concern for wealth vanity. He knows. He was not one to take opinion polls or inquire of rich friends what such a desire for money and possessions did to their lives. He wanted first-hand information He wanted to speak authoritatively on the subject so he became the richest man of his day. Yet, he calls it unfulfilling and empty. Of course, there is the ever-present safeguard for his observation. He is talking from the under the sun viewpoint. There is neither virtue in poverty nor evil in wealth. It is the attitude one has toward riches that becomes the issue.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 Note the improper attitudes of the one he describes. (1) He was not gathering a fortune with a view to the security of an heir or companion. (2) There was no end to his labor. His sole purpose in life was to collect more and more riches. (3) He became exceedingly wealthy, and yet he was never satisfied with the amount he had collected. (4) He deprived himself of what might have been meaningful pleasures to him. Money appears to satisfy because it seems to be saying that it is the answer to every problem, but perhaps this is the very deceit-fulness that Jesus was talking about. Rather than finding that it resolves one's problems, it becomes the very entanglement that produces loneliness, jealousy, frustration, worry and distrust. Numerous present-day examples of extremely wealthy men could easily be given as vivid illustrations of this very truth. The man never stopped and asked himself, And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure? His attitude was not one of compassionate, benevolent concern. It rather spoke to selfishness and greed. Thus, it is truly empty and a grievous task.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 It appears that Solomon has now turned to the value of companionship rather than riches. However, he is only illustrating that riches are of value if they are properly acquired and subsequently shared with a friend. In verse nine the idea of a good return suggests a profit. This is the basic question before him. Since the accumulation of wealth, regardless of how much, does not bring satisfaction or produce a profit when it is collected with the improper attitude, what does? A friend does. As a matter of fact, wealth is an improper choice to make if it robs you of your friends. There are many choices in life which are based on choosing between two things when it is obvious that one cannot have both simultaneously. He cannot isolate himself with his riches thinking this will bring him enjoyment and at the same time divide his riches with a friend. Life is just that way. In his hour of need, the rich man turns to his fortune for help only to realize what James meant when he wrote: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire (James 5:1-3). But it is different with a friend. While it is true that two would have a greater return for their labor than one, this is obviously not the intent of the statement. One can use only so much wealth and then everything beyond this becomes excessive. The rich man of verse eight was undoubtedly past this point. It moves the idea of profit or return into the area of the spiritual or emotional where one shares in the value of a personal friend.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 Undoubtedly the intention is to refer back to the miser with the statementBut woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. In what sense does he fall? The most obvious is a physical fall which could occur on the dangerous and narrow roads of Palestine. In such a case, to have a companion to assist would be of great value. The idea may just as well be applied to moral falls and thus one would have a friend indeed if he encouraged and led one back to repentance (James 5:19-20). The idea, however, which seems to best fit the context would be a financial collapse. When one sees his fortune slip from his hands quickly, which occurs often without warning, then it is important to have a friend come to the rescue. Many men have experienced the loss of financial security and terminated their own lives because no friend was standing close by with a helping hand. When a man purposely shuts out close friends because he has no time to cultivate them, or he intentionally remains aloof of meeting needs or ministering to those in lesser circumstances than himself, he has made the choice of a fool. Jesus recognized the wisdom of choosing the better part when he sent his followers out two by two instructing them that they should not be concerned for the physical things of life (Luke 10:1; Luke 10:4).

Ecclesiastes 4:11 Once again the miser is in the center of the stage. How can one be warm alone? It is obvious that he has sufficient resources to purchase warm coverings for his bed, but this doesn-'t seem to be the implication of the verse. There is an inner warmth that comes because of close friendship. One shares in kindred goals and intents of the heart. It is possible that Solomon could have reference to poor circulation in old age and the warmth of a physical body stimulates circulation and produces some comfort in such circumstances. Solomon knew of his father's experience with Abishag who was selected purposely to attend the king and lie with David to keep him warm (1 Kings 1:1-4).

Ecclesiastes 4:12 The term alone appears again to indicate that the rich man who stands by himself is the common denominator for this illustration too. The implication of the threefold cord is that if one friend is of greater value than riches, then there is truly great strength in having two genuine, trusted friends. Many things may overpower an individual, but in like manner those who willingly come to our rescue may deliver us from many different kinds of circumstances. Endless examples could be given to illustrate this truth. The tragedy here is that regardless of the opposition or the adversary, the man doesn-'t have a single friend to assist him in his need. Even when the dust of battle clears and you know you and your friends have lost, there is often warmth and inner peace in realizing that you had those who cared and personally sacrificed of themselves or possessions to defend you. Any such allusion in this verse to the Godhead or the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by the reference to the threefold cord would be out of harmony with the context and purpose of the book. It cannot be denied that if God is for us, no one can stand against us (Romans 8:31), and we have no greater friend than Jesus (John 15:14-15), but these are New Testament applications which are only based on principles that are taught in this text. Of course, the Christian rejoices and thanks God for the truth!

It is obvious that each of the verses in this section is related. The miser is the principle character and the vanity of riches is the central theme. Much is said for true friendship. It is a simple matter once again of a proper arrangement of one's priorities in life. Many people are obsessed with money and other forms of riches. Nearly everyone wants more than he presently possesses. It is an important lesson that overrides the examples and observations, and it is a lesson that will appear many times before the Preacher is completed with his message. One should be impressed with the threat a wrong attitude toward wealth is to the soul. A prayer of thanksgiving should be offered to God for constantly placing the signposts before our eyes to keep us from the deceitfulness of riches and forewarning us that they may easily choke out the Word of life.

FACT QUESTIONS 4:7-12

176.

Identify the two themes which are developed concurrently in this passage?

177.

In what way are riches deceitful?

178.

What is meant by the statement that there is neither virtue in poverty nor evil in wealth?

179.

What four improper attitudes did the miser possess?

180.

What will riches produce when they are improperly collected?

181.

What is Solomon illustrating in verse nine?

182.

What does the rich man turn to in his hour of need? Will he find comfort?

183.

What is most likely meant by return in verse nine? Why is money not intended?

184.

Identify who is intended by one who falls?

185.

What three possibilities could be meant by falls?

186.

Which one do you think best answers the context? Discuss.

187.

Name the three ways one may be kept warm.

188.

What is the real tragedy of the man who stands alone?

189.

Is the threefold cord intended to be an allusion to the Godhead? Discuss.

190.

Who is the principal character in this section?

191.

What is the central theme?

192.

For what should a Christian constantly thank God?