Ecclesiastes 4 (6)

Pray Psalm 72.17, 18.
His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessed in Him;
All nations shall call Him blessed.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!

Read Ecclesiastes 4.9-12.

Prepare.
1. What does Solomon say about relationships in these verses?

2. Which does Solomon consider more important: relationships, or acquiring things? Explain.

Meditate.
There is more to life than getting-and-spending. Here Solomon inserts another truth from his “under heaven” perspective, one that even hard-headed Rehoboam could acknowledge as simple common sense: Everybody needs other people; we can’t just think about ourselves or consume all our time and energy trying to accumulate things and advantages.

Implied in this, of course, is the idea that we should choose our friends wisely and not surround ourselves with fools or gluttons (vv. 4-7). This will be Rehoboam’s downfall (1 Kgs. 12.1-17). Because so many advantages come from meaningful relationships, it is important that we work hard to nurture and sustain them. Life is more than things, and human beings are more than consumers. God made us for community, and we need to work hard at making this part of life work.

The common-sense appeal of this verse anticipates later sections (chs. 7, 10, 11), in which Solomon will again appeal to common sense in order to expose the folly toward which Rehoboam is inclined. The section that follows this (4.13-16) will build on the advice of this section in an effort to point Rehoboam to finding wise friends.

Although Ecclesiastes can seem to ramble in a fairly unstructured way, when we slow down and study the links Solomon builds into his argument, we can see the wisdom of his style. Solomon warns and exhorts even as he provokes and reminds, all the while building his argument from experiences of everyday reality to the conclusion that life only makes sense when it is wholly devoted to God.

Reflect.
1. How does our being made for community reflect the being and character of God?

2. Solomon mentions only a few of the benefits of strong relationships. What others can you cite?

3. What would you say are the keys to building and maintaining strong relationships?

Human frailty quickly falls if it proudly relies on itself, despises companions and is unwilling to have a colleague. As Scripture says, “Woe to him that is alone, for when he falls, he has none to lift him up.” Peter Chrysologus (380-450), Sermon 170

I need to work on my relationships, Lord, to strengthen them in Jesus. Help me today as I…

Pray Psalm 72.16-20.
Praise God for the friends, loved ones, colleagues, and mentors He has put in your life, and seek His help in showing more love to each of them.

Sing Psalm 72.16-20.
Psalm 72.16-20 (Martyrdom: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed)
And let the earth abound with grain, let fields His fame proclaim.
And may our King forever reign and nations bless His great Name.

Now bless the God of Israel, Who wondrous works performs.
And bless His Name, His glory tell both now and forever more!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).