A Cord of Three Strands

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-16 ESV).

Recently I’ve been doing some smaller projects in the shop. I saw a picture of an anniversary or wedding wall hanging quoting from our reading today. As I thought about how I could make some of these, I also thought how important the principle is in our relationships. I have often wondered why it is so difficult to understand that the strongest motivation in life is relationship. While we often hear guilt, coercion, or shame used to motivate these things are poor long-term stimuli. Even a sense of ambition and a drive for admiration from others are not as strong. Companionship rooted in a relationship of love is the great motivator. Solomon lists four advantages in this little declaration. First, he says it increases your reward. The truth is that two can live cheaper than one. It allows the combining of resources that result in less expense. He goes further in his search for meaning and says a friend will provide help in time of trouble. If you get into difficulty, your friend will be there to help you. The third reason two are great than one is a little more difficult to understand for some. However, it simply states a principle of physiology. Body heat helps warm you and two are better than one. Fourth, the presence of one or more others in your life makes defeat unlikely. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. But then, the wise king says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” While there are advantages in companionship, nevertheless, Solomon's argument is that still it adds up to emptiness, or vanity; it does not satisfy the sense of eternity that God has put in our hearts. Many couples sit in loneliness, staring at a television screen for hours at a time or seek some other diversion to fill the emptiness and misery of their lives. No, companionship, though better than loneliness, is not the answer either. The answer is three cords. Jesus is that third cord. Weave a relationship of Christ into your marriage and it will not be easily broken!