Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
In my lifetime, I have attended dozens of weddings and I’ve also officiated many weddings during my 25+ years as a pastor. At every wedding, there is a passage of Scripture, usually chosen by the bride and groom. When I preside over a wedding, 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 at 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” (Col. 3:14). The third very popular biblical passage for weddings is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Brides and grooms understandably love the opening affirmation of this passage: “Two are better than one” (Eccl. 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 (v. 10). Brides and grooms are especially fond of this affirmation: “If two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?” (v.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 Eccl. 4:9-12 a veiled reference to the role of Christ in a marriage: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (v. 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 Eccl. 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 early 2016 when I resigned from my pastoral position in a previous church. I was unemployed for more than two years. This was, of course, devastating to my sense of self. Yet my brothers in Christ from the church hung in there with me. When my family finances were pretty much non-existent, folks brought help in the form of money, food, and even some pretty amazing presents. One family relative helped me with a pastoral position opening, which finally helped me 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 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. Lord Jesus, thank You for the truth that two are better than one. Thank you for creating us to be in relationship with others. Thank you for being in relationship with us. Comments are closed.
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