Two are Better than One

As my study of God’s Word gets deeper (and I must go deeper)–I feel the need to slow down. I feel the need to also go through Proverbs before proceeding with Rehoboam. Now, it’s time to focus on another lesson called two are better than one. This is a very biblical principle that it’s better to have a companion at work than none. This is all about teamwork. If secular pagans can understand it then how much more should the people of God understand it.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? ¹² And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV)

This is very pretty much against the idea of individualism. It’s true that we’ve got awards like employee of the month, promotion to managers, and God will reward all His elect individually. This reminds me of how awards are given not for derailing the group but for being the one to bring the group together. This is pretty much against the idea of crab mentality where you don’t want to see others succeed. Instead, the one who deserves the best reward is the one who helped others succeed. Managers are appointed to train employees to be better. Promoting an employee who derails his colleagues as managers is a very bad thing.

The Lord Jesus sent people two-by-two in Luke 10;1 and Mark 6:7. Individually, people have their strengths and weaknesses. One could be better over the other in another field. It reminds me of how it’s better to be in a group. One person may lose his patience faster while others have longer patience. One may be better in writing and the other in computation. The apostles had their weaknesses. Peter was impulsive. Thomas was doubtful. Nathaniel had the tendency to throw prejudice. Jesus arranged them in such a way that they would help each other.

Reading through J. Vernon McGee’s commentary, he comments about why it’s better to have a companion when you hike. He also mentions old folks who live alone. The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible also mentions about it that ties of union, marriage, friendship, and religious communion, are better than the selfish solitariness of the miser. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible also says the following:

II. That sociableness is the cure of this evil. Men are thus sordid because they are all for themselves. Now Solomon shows here, by divers instances, that it is not good for man to be alone (Gen 2 18); he designs hereby to recommend to us both marriage and friendship, two things which covetous misers decline, because of the charge of them; but such are the comfort and advantage of them both, if prudently contracted, that they will very well quit cost. Man, in paradise itself, could not be happy without a mate, and therefore is no sooner made than matched. 1. Solomon lays this down for a truth, That two are better than one, and more happy jointly than either of them could be separately, more pleased in one another than they could be in themselves only, mutually serviceable to each other’s welfare, and by a united strength more likely to do good to others: They have a good reward of their labour; whatever service they do, it is returned to them another way. He that serves himself only has himself only for his paymaster, and commonly proves more unjust and ungrateful to himself than his friend, if he should serve him, would be to him; witness him that labours endlessly and yet bereaves his soul of good; he has no reward of his labour. But he that is kind to another has a good reward; the pleasure and advantage of holy love will be an abundant recompence for all the work and labour of love. Hence Solomon infers the mischief of solitude: Woe to him that is alone. He lies exposed to many temptations which good company and friendship would prevent and help him to guard against; he wants that advantage which a man has by the countenance of his friend, as iron has of being sharpened by iron. A monastic life then was surely never intended for a state of perfection, nor should those be reckoned the greatest lovers of God who cannot find in their hearts to love any one else. 2. He proves it by divers instances of the benefit of friendship and good conversation. (1.) Occasional succour in an exigency. It is good for two to travel together, for if one happen to fall, he may be lost for want of a little help. If a man fall into sin, his friend will help to restore him with the spirit of meekness; if he fall into trouble, his friend will help to comfort him and assuage his grief. (2.) Mutual warmth. As a fellow-traveller is of use (amicus pro vehiculo—a friend is a good substitute for a carriage) so is a bedfellow: If two lie together, they have heat. So virtuous and gracious affections are excited by good society, and Christians warm one another by provoking one another to love and to good works. (3.) United strength. If an enemy find a man alone, he is likely to prevail against him; with his own single strength he cannot make his part good, but, if he have a second, he may do well enough: two shall withstand him. “You shall help me against my enemy, and I will help you against yours;” according to the agreement between Joab and Abishai (2 Sam 10 11), and so both are conquerors; whereas, acting separately, both would have been conquered; as was said of the ancient Britons, when the Romans invaded them, Dum singuli pugnant, universi vincuntur—While they fight in detached parties, they sacrifice the general cause. In our spiritual warfare we may be helpful to one another as well as in our spiritual work; next to the comfort of communion with God, is that of the communion of saints. He concludes with this proverb, A threefold cord is not easily broken, any more than a bundle of arrows, though each single thread, and each single arrow, is. Two together he compares to a threefold cord; for where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his Spirit come to them, and make the third, as he joined himself to the two disciples going to Emmaus, and then there is a threefold cord that can never be broken. They that dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them.

The New Testament further talks about not forsaking the assembly. Hebrews 10:19-25 says the following:

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Christians must develop as individuals but they must also develop in groups. Individual development isn’t for self-gratification but to assist the Body of Christ. People have been entrusted with different talents In the military, we have different types of units. The human body has different types of systems to keep it in order. We realize that we need each other all the more. David needed Nathan to get him back on track (2 Samuel 12). David had Nathan guide him in the right direction. Every person needs a good friend like Nathan–a person who will correct us in our deepest faults out of love for the LORD.

We can see that if you’re truly saved–fellowship becomes part of the Christian life. I admit that COVID-19 has caused church attendances to be limited. Fortunately, there are virtual services and digital ways to receive and give money. The whole point of fellowship is that we need someone to correct us and encourage us. Correct us of our faults and encourage unto good works. Sanctification is never a one-person job. God is involved in sanctification and He will use others for the sanctification of the believer.