Read: Ecclesiastes 1-4.

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

“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.”

Are we better off alone? Some people certainly think so. They insist they work best by themselves, or that others only slow them down. But that is not what God intended. From the beginning, He made it clear that life was not designed to be lived in isolation. The old saying “no man is an island” is more than a clever phrase—it reflects the wisdom of God. He knows what is best for us.

As believers, we are called into community. We need one another. We are meant to worship together, serve together, and encourage one another. Solomon’s words remind us of the blessings that come when we walk side by side: two people can accomplish more than one, and when one falls, the other is there to lift them up. Life is full of difficulties, and God in His wisdom provides us with relationships so that none of us must carry burdens alone.

This principle applies across every area of life. God said in the garden, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18). That truth reaches into our marriages, our friendships, and most certainly into the church. When Jesus sent out His disciples, He did not send them one by one, but in pairs (Mark 6:7). He knew they needed encouragement, accountability, and support along the way.

Think of the examples in Scripture: Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms. David found strength in his friendship with Jonathan. Paul traveled and worked alongside companions like Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy. Repeatedly, God demonstrates that His people are stronger together.

The same is true for us today. In Christ’s church, this means more than simply sitting in a pew on Sunday. It is about living in fellowship, united in heart and purpose. The Hebrew writer urges us, “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another” (Heb. 10:24–25). Our faith grows deeper, our courage grows stronger, and our endurance grows longer when we stand side by side.

The truth is simple but powerful: one can be overcome, but together we are stronger. God has given us one another so that none of us must walk alone.