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Text: Ecclesiastes 4
Solomon begins a list of “better” things. He explains that much of life is composed of the lesser of two evils. Sometimes it’s up to you to choose the lesser of two evils. Other times you’re subjected to the lesser of two evils. Not all decisions are like that, but quite a few are.
Dead is better (vss 1-3)
- Solomon begins with the lesser of two evils: either oppression without comfort or death. He concluded that death was preferable when there was no comforter.
- A comforter might provide friendship to the oppressed.
- A comforter might provide counsel to the confused.
- A comforter might destroy the oppressor!
- A comforter might free the victims from the oppressor. (Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are comforters.)
- But Solomon saw that there was no comforter in these situations.
- He saw that no amount of intelligence, education, or money, change the tyrant’s mind. There are educated, rich, intelligent tyrants who abuse and enslave people.
- He also saw that in many of those cases, there was no relief for the victims.
- Then he looked at the graves and said what every one of us has said at a funeral, “At least they’re not in pain anymore.” Solomon praises the dead.
Quietness is better (vss 4-6)
- The next observation is about an industrious person skilled at living life. The right that they’re doing isn’t spiritual, it’s just hard work and industry. And for this, people go after him or her because their envious. Because they want to be that person, but they’re not.
- Envy is often the motivation for people’s labor. So someone who builds a good amount of wealth does so at the high cost of friends, family, and sometimes himself.
- Then, the lazy man sees that and asks, “What’s the point?” Therefore he has no motivation to work. And with that lack of motivation, he destroys himself as well.
- Spelling Bee story in 2nd grade. I heard the winner can go to Washington, D.C. And I thought about that and wasn’t really that thrilled about the prize. So when it was my turn to spell. They said “cactus.” And I said C-A…..K.. and walked off the stage. They said, “We’re sorry. That’s not right.” My mom asked afterward why I didn’t spell it right when I knew how to spell the word. I told her that I wasn’t interested in going to Washington, D.C. Like the lazy one, I looked at the reward and said, I’m not interested in that.
- So the successful is attacked for being highly motivated and skilled, and the lazy one destroys himself because he has no motivation after seeing what happened in success.
- Solomon said both get into trouble, so I found it’s better to have just a little with peace than a lot with trouble. And it’s better to have just a little with peace than nothing, which is also trouble.
Companionship is better (vss 7-12)
- Isolation and solitary living doesn’t get you out of travail in this life. The solitary person labors just like everyone else does. If you were never a parent or married, you’d still go to work because you have to. And you’d never say, “I’m just doing this for myself therefore it’s not worth it.” No, if you’re going to live, you’re going to labor in this life.
- Now, it’s preferable if there’s some form of companionship in the labor because it means:
- The rewards are multiplied. Which means the labor is divided.
- It also means there is support when it’s necessary: financial support, health support, encouragement, counsel.
- It also means warmth when it’s cold. Whether it’s snuggling up with body heat or borrowing a jacket, people feed off each other when they are in fellowship together.
- It also means protection in verse 12.
- Solomon isn’t saying being alone is sinful. He’s just saying that having companionship is better in the travail. Take Paul for instance. Paul said, At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Paul wasn’t a sinner because he didn’t have any friends around him. Paul was just alone. And you know what would’ve been better? If someone had stood with Paul.
- And look, you don’t always get to choose what’s better. Sometimes you live with what is.
Wisdom is better (vss 13-16)
- This foolish king comes out of prison and impoverishes his nation because he’s too stupid to listen to instructions.
- Then, a wise child takes the king’s place on the throne. The people are served well, but the wisdom that turned things around is forgotten (vs 16).
- While wisdom is preferable to foolishness, wisdom is for you in this lifetime now. The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
- Generations are like a conveyor belt of people. They just keep coming and going. Wisdom occasionally pops up and serves the people that have it. Foolishness is a disaster, so wisdom is preferable. But wisdom only works with people that want it and get it.
