The Power of Friendship

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Tuesday, September 3, 2013:  Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12

9 

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.  ¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)

The quality of your relationships is the quality of your life.  Solomon once again breaks out of his usually cynical outlook ("vanity, vanity, all is vanity") and gives us a gem of true wisdom.  In this short passage he tells us 4 advantages of fellowship:

1.  Our REWARD in increased.  "because they have a good reward for their labor." 

When we work together and succeed, our enjoyment of the victory is multiplied.  We accomplish more and we enjoy it more.  When we share the load, we get far more done.

2.  We have HELP in times of trouble.  "For if they fall, one will lift up his companion."

Each of us have had times that a trusted friend showed up just in time to aid us in our need.

3.  Fellowship keeps us from growing COLD.  "Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?"

The encouragement from dear friends that warms our hearts. 

4.  Companions keep us SAFE from Satan's attack.  "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him."

Our common enemy has a simply tactic.  He first isolates, then he kills.  

"Lord, thank you for trusted friends and companions you have placed in our lives.  You never designed us to be alone, but to be joined with others in Your Kingdom.  Help us to be friends to others as well as receive the friends that you send us."