Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

"Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 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! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, ESV)

This book is quite complex and certainly does not follow modern standards of philosophical writings. It feels more like a list of philosophical musings compiled together. That is not to say that there is no order to the compilation, but one argument does not necessarily flow immediately into the next. Often it seems that the Preacher throws thoughts out to spark the reader’s interest, or even to shock the reader, and then changes course only to pick up the same idea later. Such is the case with this musing. I think perhaps the Preacher is slowing building back the house of meaning one small brick at a time. This would explain why he seems on occasion to contradict himself, as he seems to do here. He assumes there is meaning behind relationships, but one would have guessed he would consider relationships vanity. Get close to others, endure the hurt and humility that such vulnerability requires, and then loose them in death. Sounds like vanity. But that is not where the Preacher goes.

So, it seems the Preacher is building the case for significance in the rubble of meaninglessness, and he begins his construction with community. His case is two-fold. First, what point is there to one’s toil, to depriving yourself of pleasure, if you have no one beside yourself to work for? Seeking private pleasure does not bring satisfaction. Joy is found in bringing joy to others and receiving joy from others. When their joy is our joy and our joy is their joy, toil means something. Secondly, people together are able to accomplish much more than what they can do alone. Toil or rest is better if done with another. “Woe to him who is alone when he falls;” solitude is a dangerous business.

It is not mere coincidence that Western world’s struggle with significance is coupled with individualism and narcissism. Our culture instructs us that to find meaning one must search within oneself. “Discover who you are,” we are told, for it is in self-discovery that life gains purpose. But if the Preacher is right, that is exactly the opposite course that we should take. Looking inward is not the solution. It is the problem. Don’t spend your days figuring out who you are and what you want, as if all meaning is found within your being. Spend you days looking outward at what you can give to others. Toil is only enjoyable and significant if done for and with others.