Ecclesiastes 4:9-12–Two Are Better Than One

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: "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 broke."

I can personally attest to the true wisdom of this passage having on numerous occasion experienced being alone and being with friend.  To put it simply, this is the heart of love and fellowship.  There is, however, another element to this: having the 'right' friends.  Do not mistake this as in anyway shallow or fickle.  The point is to remember that some people–namely the wicked, the fool, and the covenant breaker–are not only detrimental to this passage, they can be divisive where they should be conjoined and toxic when they should be healing.  That is why it is of utmost importance to befriend those people who have proven themselves, so to speak, to be people who would seek your growth and who, in the very least, are not scoffers of the Gospel for in so doing they prove themselves to be fools.  Let us then take heed not only to care for and seek out good friends but also to cherish those blessed people that God has been pleased to place in our lives!