Living in An Unfair World, Part Two

Ecclesiastes 4:9-16

Ecclesiastes, Part 9

The last study dealt with the first two points of the subject: "Living in an unfair world." To review, they were:

1. Realize Injustice exists: v.1-3 (the courtroom)

2. Live a Balanced Life, v.4-8 (the workplace)

In this chapter, Solomon moves from the courtroom, to the workplace, to the highway, and finally to the palace to find that life's unfairness is everywhere. What's unfair? Life is unfair to the overweight person with a metabolism that causes him or her to gain weight faster than the skinny person who can eat anything they want! It is unfair that Michael Jordan can jump higher than I can! It is unfair that Donald Trump's kids were born into millions of dollars! Hey, life is full of things that appear unfair. How does one deal with it? The third way to deal with injustice in a world of unfairness is:

3. Choose Good Friends, v.9-12

In this life that often treats us unfairly, when circumstances out of our control cause collision and crackups, it is important that we have good friends. We are in a city of lonely people. In this chapter, Solomon gives the lonely howl of a top dog. He is king, but he experiences loneliness. Solomon is not talking about just marriage, but friendship. Many married people are lonely. Many famous and rich people are lonely. Judy Garland said, "If I am such legend, why am I so lonely?" In our culture where people flip switches and close doors to watch television and search the internet, there is still a growing sense of loneliness.

Solomon pictures a traveler along a lonely highway, and he says two are better than one. It is always good to have someone to "care and share about what's unfair."

How are two better than one? At what times is it good to have a friend? What are some principles of choosing good friends?

God made man a social being. Man was not made to go at life alone; God made man for companionship. We are born into a family, we live under governmental authority, and God has ordained the church, too, for a place of fellowship. It is good to have a friend at the following times:

A. WORK, v.9

"A good reward for their labour." Friends can work together. Many hands do make light work.

B. WALK, v.10

"If they fall..." We need a friend to pick us up when we are weak or when we are down. All of us have down days, we all fail, we all say stupid things, and we all need forgiveness. A good friend will not walk away when we fall, but they will pick us up. Elijah was in a warfare with the false prophets of Baal. He became discouraged and ran from Jezebel. One of the great encouragements God gave to Elijah was Elisha, to be a friend to him in the time of trouble for his soul.

C. WARMTH, v.11

Two travellers camping out have warmth together. We are often vulnerable to the elements and temptations around us.

D. WAR, v.12

"two shall withstand him." When one is overpowered in a battle, two can defend themselves. We are in a battle, a spiritual warfare. We are to be fellowsoldiers (Philemon 2) in the gospel. Has anyone ever lied against you, started false rumours about your character? How a friend is a blessing in times like that! David faced danger in his walk. Saul was out to take his life, but how did David pull through? He had the friendship of Jonathan. Friends stand with us when others seek to destroy our lives. Jonathan encouraged David in the Lord. While Saul burned with jealousy, Jonathan delighted to defend and encourage David, even though David was a threat to Jonathan's future throne. (1 Samuel 23:16)

What does a three-fold cord relate to?

Three is the number of completion. We need some threefold cords: a strong personal life, a strong church life, and a strong home life. Perhaps one could relate it to the three major institutions God has ordained: Home, Government, and Church. Perhaps one can relate it to the Tri-unity of God: that we are upheld by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Solomon starts with the number one (v.8), then goes to two (v.9), and then says a threefold cord... (v.12). Cords are woven together, a picture of friendship. To deal with the journey of life, in work, in walk, in our warmth, and in our spiritual warfare, it is important to have good friends. The happy man is the man who does not make friends of the ungodly, sinner, or scorner (Ps.1:1). To make friends you must show yourself friendly.

4. Popularity and Power are Fleeting, v.13-16

In these verses, Solomon tells an interesting story of an old king who no longer had wisdom to listen. He arose out of poverty and prison, but he lost his power because he stopped listening to those he led. HE BECAME PROUD! Poverty is not a hindrance to success if a person is wise! You can be born poor, you can even make great mistakes, but if you are wise, you can rise. V. 15 indicates that all those under the sun were willing to follow the youth, but then another generation rises up and were not pleased with this young man who was wise but who became proud. Someone who will not bear being admonished is a proud person and a fool, and is setting himself up for a life of vanity and a chasing after the wind.

What is Solomon saying? Was he giving his own personal testimony? Quite possibly Solomon has himself in mind. No doubt this book was written toward the end of Solomon's life. He had been a wise young man who became king, and the people did follow him. At the end of his life, however, he made life very grievous for those he led.

Our world is often unfair. We might as well face the fact! We can better deal with it when we

(1) Realize injustice exists

(2) Live a balanced life

(3) Choose good friends

(4) Realize that power and popularity are fleeting.