Ancient WisdomAncient Wisdom for Modern Lifefor Modern Life

Wisdom about RelationshipsWisdom about Relationships

Ecclesiastes

THE VANITY OF LIFE THE VANITY OF LIFE WITHOUT COMPANIONSWITHOUT COMPANIONS

Man without a comforter.Man without a comforter.• Then I looked again at all the acts of Then I looked again at all the acts of

oppression which were being done under oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. So I congratulated one to comfort them. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. But better the living who are still living. But better off than both of them is the one who has off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. activity that is done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)(Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)

Man in competition with

his neighbor.

• And I have seen that every labor And I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4)4:4)

• The fool folds his The fool folds his hands and hands and consumes his consumes his own flesh. own flesh. (Ecclesiastes 4:5)(Ecclesiastes 4:5)

• One hand full of One hand full of rest is better rest is better than two fists full than two fists full of labor and of labor and striving after striving after wind. wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6)(Ecclesiastes 4:6)

Man without a dependent or family.

Then I looked again at vanity under Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. There was a certain man the sun. There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-8)a grievous task. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-8)

Man without a Man without a counselorcounselor.. A poor, yet wise lad is better than an old A poor, yet wise lad is better than an old

and foolish king who no longer knows and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. For he has how to receive instruction. For he has come out of prison to become king, even come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. though he was born poor in his kingdom. I have seen all the living under the sun I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. There is no end to all the replaces him. There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes and striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16)4:13-16)

Each of these stories indicts Each of these stories indicts a self-centered and self-a self-centered and self-sufficient isolation from sufficient isolation from others; and each others; and each demonstrates the need for demonstrates the need for man to develop relationships man to develop relationships with others.with others.

THE VALUE OF THE VALUE OF COMPANIONSHIPCOMPANIONSHIP

In companionship there is In companionship there is accomplishment and accomplishment and encouragement.encouragement.

Two are better than one because Two are better than one because they have a good return for their they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. there is not another to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

In companionship there is In companionship there is mutual benefit.mutual benefit.

Furthermore, if two lie down Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? how can one be warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:11)(Ecclesiastes 4:11)

In companionship there is In companionship there is protection.protection.

And if one can overpower him And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)4:12)

Guideposts Guideposts for Livingfor Living

Build relationships of mutual caring so that you do not have to go through adversity alone!

Know that effort motivated by envy will only bring unhappiness.

Don’t try to go it alone. Don’t let success give you the big head.

APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES TO THE CONGREGATIONTO THE CONGREGATION

We need to be comforters of our brethren.We need to be comforters of our brethren. We need to cooperate, not compete. We need We need to cooperate, not compete. We need

to work together.to work together. We need to mutually assist and protect each We need to mutually assist and protect each

other.other. We need to combine our knowledge; learn We need to combine our knowledge; learn

from one another. We need to share our from one another. We need to share our abilities and resources, not hoard them.abilities and resources, not hoard them.