Ecclesiastes 4:9
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.”
Scones have practically become a staple in our family, and the extra pounds we all carry may be partly due to the multitude we have consumed. Since starting a tea business in 1997, I have probably baked hundreds, if not thousands, of scones in numerous varieties. Some tips for getting a “good rise” are to make sure the ingredients are fresh, the wet ingredients are cold, and that the cut scones are placed close together on the baking pan. Leaving them close, but not touching, enables them to rise higher and straighter, bake more evenly, and come out with soft sides and crispy tops. What a great picture for the Christian life—when we stick close to one another, we will finish higher and straighter.
Solomon’s teaching from Ecclesiastes encourages us that when two or more work together for a common purpose, they will have a good return for their labor. Doing most things by ourselves can be hard and sometimes overwhelming, so why not have a partner who can help us finish sooner and achieve better results in the end? The writer is illustrating that things work out better and yield more fruitful results when we allow close cooperation with others. That goes for the family, friends, church, neighborhoods, communities, and the work environment. Here are some points about why two are better than one:
• Because companionship is better than isolation
• Because we find more satisfaction when a job is well done
• Because we have someone to share in the joy of our labor
• Because when we are weak, the other can hold us up
• Because we keep each other accountable
• Because two cannot be easily torn apart
• Because we might see things differently through another’s lens and experiences
Sometimes we let pride stand in the way of asking for help, or we struggle to trust another person to do a task the way we envision it. Maybe we lack a teachable spirit, closing the door on what a more experienced co-laborer might teach us. More than just receiving physical help with our labor, my guess is that we will gain much more—more fruit, more efficiency, more fellowship—and will rise higher and straighter than we could have imagined.
We are also encouraged by what Jesus said in John 14: 16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever…” The Lord has sent His Holy Spirit to join with us in any “labor” we encounter, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. The Helper is our essential partner in everything we do, and the great part is that we don’t need to text or email Him to set an appointment time for Him to be there on the job with us. He is closer than a heartbeat.
Dear Father, Your instruction for us today is a helpful reminder of how we need other people to experience a more fruitful life. How much more we need Jesus, who said in John 15:5, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” As we go about our day, remind us to call upon the Holy Spirit’s power to enable us to do what we cannot do on our own. Also, help us recognize that there are times when we need help to do a better job. Let us not be too prideful to ask for either. May we rise higher and straighter and bring glory to You. In Your name we pray. Amen.
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