Not Just for Weddings

Scripture — 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 the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Devotion

I’ve done dozens and dozens of weddings during my 35 years as a pastor. In every wedding I do, I read a portion of Scripture chosen by the bride and groom. Prior to the ceremony, we have talked about various options. I encourage the couple to choose a passage that reflects the biblical truth that speaks to them personally.

They almost always choose one of three passages. 1 Corinthians 13, “The Love Chapter,” is a favorite, especially for those who want a more traditional ambiance in their wedding. Colossians 3:12-17 is a frequent choice because of its practical exhortations and affirmation that love “binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). But the most popular biblical passage for weddings in which I officiate is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Brides and grooms understandably love the opening affirmation of this passage: “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). In a nutshell, this explains one main reason they’re getting married. They believe their lives will be better together. Moreover, they like the thought that “if they fall, one will lift up the other,” because they know that difficult times will come (4:10). Brides and grooms are especially fond of this affirmation: “If two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?” (4:11) I’m not sure, however, that keeping warm is what they’re looking forward to most of all.

Christian couples see in the final line of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 a veiled reference to the role of Christ in a marriage: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (4:12). The original saying referred to the simple fact that you need at least three braided strands to make a rope. Such a triple-strand cord will, of course, be much stronger than a single strand. So, though the author of Ecclesiastes was not thinking specifically about Christ in a marriage, the application of this imagery to Christian marriage works quite well. Couples for whom Christ is essential and welcome will have strong marriages, marriages that can sustain the challenges and hardships that husbands and wives routinely face.

Yet, we should understand that Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is relevant not only to marriage relationships, but also to a wide variety of relationships, including relationships among friends, co-workers, roommates, neighbors, small group members, siblings, relatives, and so forth. Though you would be advised to reserve the lying together part for family life, the other benefits of relationships in this passage are more widely relevant. I think, for example, what my family and I experienced in the early 1970s. A substantial economic downturn led to my dad’s being laid off from his job. He was unemployed for more than two years. This was, of course, devastating to my dad’s sense of self. Yet his brothers in Christ from the church hung in there with him. When our family finances were pretty much nil, folks brought food, clothing, and even some pretty amazing Christmas presents. One brother in Christ helped my dad redo his resumé, which finally helped my dad get a job. If my family had attempted to go through this time of life alone, it would have been so much worse than what we actually experienced.

No matter where you are in life, no matter what you’re going through right now, whether you’re in a time of plenty or a time of want, whether you’re rejoicing or sorrowing, remember this: Two are better than one. If you want to thrive, or even just to survive, you need other people.

And, yes, you also need the “third strand” in your life, in every part of life, not just in marriage. Christ is with you at all times, to strengthen you, guide you, protect you, heal you, and encourage you. The more you live each day in relationship with Christ and his people, the more you will never have to do it alone.

Banner image by Onder Ortel on Unsplash.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Friendship (Eccl 4:7-4:16).

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