We're Better Working Together
We're Better Together • Sermon • Submitted
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Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 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!
Ecclesiastes 4:11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
We’re Better Together
1. Ecclesiastes 4:9a Two are better than one,
a. Genesis 1 7x “itwas good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31)
b. Genesis 2:18 Then the LordGod said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
c. 1 Corinthians 7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.
i. Alone – isolated, apart
d. We’re better together.
i. Ecclesiastes 4:9a Twoare better than one,
ii. Ecclesiastes 4:12 a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
We’re Better Working Together
1. Working alone is risky.
a. FROM: Joe Smith, Bricklayer
b. RE: My Accident Claim
c. I am writing in response to your request concerning Block #11 on the insurance form which asks for "the cause of injuries" wherein I put "trying to do the job alone." You said you needed more information, so I trust the following will be sufficient.
d. I am a brick layer by trade and on the date of the injuries, I was working alone, laying brick around the top of a four-story building when I realized that I had about 500 pounds of brick left. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to put them into a barrel and lower them by a pulley which was fastened to the top of the building.
e. I loaded the bricks into the barrel and flung it out over the side of the building with the bricks in it. I then went down and untied the rope holding it securely to insure the slow descent of the barrel.As you will note on Block #6 of the insurance form, I weigh 175 pounds.
f. Due to my shock at being jerked off the ground so swiftly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Between the second and third floors, I met the barrel coming down. This accounts for the bruises and lacerations on my upper body. Regaining my presence of mind, again I held tightly to the rope and proceeded rapidly up the side of the building, not stopping until my right hand was jammed into the pulley. This accounts for my broken thumb.
g. Despite the pain, I retained my presence of mind and held tightly to the rope. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about fifty pounds. I again refer you to Block #6 and my weight of 175 lbs.
h. As you would guess, I began a rapid descent. In the vicinity of the second floor, I met the barrel coming up. This explains the injuries to my legs and lower body. Slowed only slightly, I continued my descent, landing on the pile of bricks. Fortunately, my back was only sprained but I had internal injuries.
i. I am sorry to report, however, that at this point I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. As you can imagine, the empty barrel crashed down on me. I promise I will never work alone!
2. Working together is more productive.
a. I read this week about a horse-pull in Canada where they hitched this one draft horse and he pulled 9,000 pounds. They hitched another strong horse up and he pulled 8,000 pounds. So, they figured the two of them together could pull 17,000 pounds. They loaded the sled with 17,000 pounds and hooked the two stout beasts to the sled and they almost ran away with the load. They were surprised, so they kept adding fertilizer bags and testing their strength. Do you know how much those two horses pulled together? Those two mighty steeds pulled 30,000 pounds, over three times what either horse could pull separately.
i. From a sermon by Tim Adams, Vision for Prayer, 12/1/2009
3. Working together is essential.
a. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
b. Ephesians 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
c. Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
d. Ephesians 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
e. Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
f. Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
1 Corinthians 11:24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”