Two Are Better Than One: A Three-Strand Cord

Key Points:

• The book of Ecclesiastes is presented as an exploration of the various ways people try to find happiness, meaning, and security apart from God.
• Ecclesiastes 4 describes the motivation for success as often being rooted in envy of one’s neighbors, a pursuit that is “meaningless, like chasing the wind”.
• Competition itself is not inherently wrong and can be a source of productivity. The problem arises when, in the absence of God, it becomes a way to gauge one’s self-worth and forge an identity through winning.
• The author of Ecclesiastes concludes that relying on anything “under the sun”—such as achievements, experiences, or people—for ultimate meaning is like building a house on sand and will ultimately lead to disappointment.
• An unchecked competitive spirit is destructive to relationships because it stifles the ability to celebrate the success of others and to offer encouragement.
• If a man works endlessly hard to accumulate wealth, but is all alone, ultimately his work becomes meaningless and depressing because he has no one to share it with.
• Ecclesiastes champions the value of companionship, stating, “Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed”.
• When a person’s worth is tied to winning and being noticed, it prevents the formation of genuine friendships and leads to a life of loneliness.
• The strength of unity is emphasized with the metaphor, “a triple braided cord is not easily broken,” suggesting that three are even better than two for support and defense.
• Recognizing that humans are “natural-born competitors” is the first step toward mitigating the negative effects of this drive on one’s life and relationships.

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About Tullian Tchividjian

Tullian is the pastor at The Sanctuary church in Jupiter, Florida. He is the grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham and his wife Ruth Graham. Tullian pastored two churches in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, before planting The Sanctuary in Jupiter.  The Sanctuary is a non-denominational church proclaiming the boundless love of Jesus to a broken world.  Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, The Sanctuary is a place to find love and laughter, hope and healing, acceptance and forgiveness, and mercy and help. Watch more of Pastor Tullian's messages on The Sanctuary's YouTube.channel.  Connect with the church on Facebook or online. Find Tulllian's books on Amazon.