Benefits of Companionship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Every person can thrive in their relationships by understanding the benefits of it.

Benefit I. Good return

A. The ancient king Solomon wrote these proverbs concerning any relationship, not just the marriage relationship. The marriage relationship is a great place to begin. He begins this passage by mentioning that two are better than one because they have a good return for their work. It could even be stated that it is a better reward. In the working world if you put two people, who work well together, on a project that will end up doing more than three times the work that one person could accomplish.

B. Through the commitments you are making today you are making strides in accomplishing more than you ever would separate. Your vows indicate that you will be helping each other to succeed. You will be helping each other in every step of your path.

Benefit II. Help

A. In the passage he says, “If one falls down, his friend will help him up.” Perhaps Solomon was thinking of two men walking down a treacherous stretch of road when one falls off the edge. Maybe he falls down a hill, but he can’t get back up, because of a broken bone or some other injury. If he has a friend with him he will be able to get up again. However, if he doesn’t have someone with him he might be stuck. Solomon says, “But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

B. For us today the help offered can come in many different forms. When one of you is injured you may need help to get going again. When one of you is sick you might need help to get well again. When you are feeling emotionally beat you need someone along side of you to help you up. You have made vows to each other committing to help each other in every situation. When your spouse is faced with trouble, do your best to come to their rescue.

Benefit III. Warmth

A. King Solomon’s father reached the end of his life and need warmth. Someone was brought next to him to help keep him warm. Maybe this is what he was thinking about when he wrote this passage. That is a survival technique they teach you, when you are cold huddle together to keep each other warm.

B. We live in a world that can be very cold. People can treat others with disdain, and they can attempt to hurt others with their words or with their actions. In cases like this you might need someone to help you stay warm. When things get cold outside, or when people are cold toward you huddle together and support each other.

Benefit IV. Defense

A. In Bible times there were stories of people traveling down a lonely stretch of road when they are overtaken by bandits. You can imagine that the bandits were looking for the people who were most vulnerable. These would be people who are weak or are traveling alone. You can imagine people like that would be much easier to overpower than people who are traveling in a group.

B. Maybe the attacks you endure will not be of a physical nature. Maybe they will be more verbal. As a couple you need to stand up for each other. Many people are tempted to talk about their spouses negatively behind their backs. Don’t fall into that trap. Instead stand up for your spouse when negative attacks come. Build your spouse up when you are at work or around your friends. Don’t allow belittling comments be a part of your vocabulary.

Conclusion:

The very last statement in that passage is, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Each of you make up one strand of that cord, God makes the third. When you bring God into your relationship your partnership will be stronger and healthier. We can all make our marriages better by treating them as a friend and a spouse.