REAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT REWARD, REASSURE, AND REFRESH

The Book of Ecclesiastes #5

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, February 16, 2025

THREE THINGS THAT WILL SEPARATE US

(Ecclesiastes 4:1-12)

1.  OPPRESSION

(Ecclesiastes 4:1) “I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them.”

2.  COMPETITION

(Ecclesiastes 4:4) “Most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors.”

3.  COMPULSION

(Ecclesiastes 4:8) “This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.”

“Loneliness is the malnutrition of the soul that comes from living on substitutes.” –Warren Wiersbe

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

(Genesis 3:8) “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.”

GOD’S PLAN FOR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

1.  MUTUALLY REWARDING RELATIONSHIPS

(Ecclesiastes 4:9) “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.”

2.  MUTUAL REASSURANCE

(Ecclesiastes 4:10) “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

(Galatians 6:1) “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.”

“You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel like you’ve done a permanent job.” –Laurence J. Peter

3.  MUTUAL REFRESHMENT

(Ecclesiastes 4:11) “Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?”

(Ephesians 4:26) “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry…”

4.  MUTUAL REFORCEMENT

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

WE ARE WOVEN TOGETHER IN CHRIST

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) “Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

(John 17:21) “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

(1 Peter 5:8) “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

GROWTHWORK

(Proverbs 18:24, NKJV) “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

1.  BE A FRIEND

(Luke 10:33) “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”

2.  BE AN ENCOURAGER

(Luke 10:34) “Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”

3.  BE A FULLY PARTICIPATING PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

(1 Corinthians 12:27) “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”