He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his aeye satisfied with riches.
But bhe never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of cgood?”
This also is vanity and a1 grave misfortune.
The Value of a Friend
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Popularity Passes Away
| << Ecclesiastes 4:8 | Ecclesiastes 4:10 >> |
Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Ecclesiastes 4:9:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
What do rivalry and competition produce? Enemies. He then says that contentment is two times better than the futility of pursuing after gain, that is, the keeping up with the Joneses is a futile thing for a person to do.
Solomon is saying (basically) that companionship has the benefit of producing strength. In unity, there is strength.
I might also add that the proverbs that are given in verses 9-12, for instance the one in verse 10—if they fall one will lift up his companion—it would not be helpful for you to think of this merely in terms of somebody falling into a ditch. That is very obvious. He is talking about not only is there help in companionship for somebody who literally falls in a ditch, but rather, if somebody makes a mistake, your companion very likely can cover it and maybe help you out so your error does not hurt you so badly. Companionship gives strength. There is a great deal of help there.
Articles
'By What Every Joint Supplies'
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Five): Comparisons
Godly Friendship: A Priceless Commodity
Lessons from the Geese
Bible Studies
Parable of the Persistent Friend
Essays
The Importance of Fellowship (Part One)
Unsharpened (Part Two)
Sermons
How to Combat Future Shock
Liberty vs. Independence
Understanding Unity
Prayer Makes a Difference
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part 10)
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Ten)
What Should We Do While Waiting for Christ's Return?
| << Ecclesiastes 4:8 | Ecclesiastes 4:10 >> |
Join 137,059+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.