We live in perhaps the loneliest and disconnected age in generations. Qohelet, the Mentor in Ecclesiastes, teaches us in Chapter 4 that wisdom is recognizing that You’ll need companions to find contentment.

First, he teaches there is no contentment when people are commodities. Three times he speaks of “oppression/oppressed/oppressors” (v. 1). In the OT this word oppression refers primarily to economic injustice (Ezek. 22:12, 29; Hos. 12:7; Prov 22:16; Deut 24:14-15). When we treat people as a means to our own profit and pleasure, contentment will elude us all because of our evil (v. 3).

There is also no contentment when people are competition. Envy doesn’t deliver (v. 4) – there is always someone better, smarter, and richer. Not working is harmful too, v. 5, so it is better to have both work and rest (v. 6) as God intended (Ex. 20:9, Matt 12:8). Similarly, we should not be so driven in our work that people become inconsequential and we become isolated (v. 8). Better when our work is driven by the desire to enjoy the fruit of our labor and share it with others (v. 7-8).

Qohelet tells us “people are companions on the journey to contentment.” Two are better than one because they can work together, help, provide for, and protect each other (v. 9-12). Relationships are all over the Bible: we were created for relationship (Gen 1:26-28), the gospel reconciles us to God and each other (Eph 2:11ff), Jesus always sent pairs of disciples on mission (Luke 10:1-12), the church is spoke of as God’s family (Titus 2). And yet our companions will ultimately let us down or simply forget us (v. 13-16). We need Jesus Christ to be our True and Better Companion who can carry us through death (Rev 1:18) and will never forget us (Heb. 13:5).

How will this passage change how you look at your work? 
Are you ready to risk opening yourself up to new companions on the journey of faith?