Please find a Bible and turn with me to Ecclesiastes, chapter 4.
There’s an old saying: in life or on a journey, if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.
From the beginning in Genesis, we see that God has designed us to live together in community. In the creation account of Genesis chapter 1, God’s statement on each of the 7 days of creation is that “it was good.” In Genesis chapter 2, we see that there is only one thing in creation about which God says “this is not good,” and that is, having created Adam, he saw that Adam had no companion. And God’s judgment in chapter 2, verse 18 was: “It is not good that man is alone.” And so God created Eve.
Mankind was created to be in community. In life, we need to go far, not fast, so we need to go together. We need community. Our passage today shows us three killers of community: Envy, Exile, and Hubris. Let’s read.
Community Killers
Envy
Ecclesiastes 4:4–6 (CSB)
4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. 5 The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. 6 Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
Verses 4-6 show us the futility of operating from envy or jealousy, as it is translated here. What this word describes is the feeling of being upset that someone has something you do not. Verse 4 says that this feeling is the cause of all “labor” and “skillful work”.
But that doesn’t sound like a bad thing, does it? Labor and skillful work are good things, aren’t they? In this context, the words we have as “labor” and “skillful work” actually have a negative connotation.
It means something like “all the excessive toil we go through to try and make a profit.” It’s describing the idea of striving to “keep up apperances” to have all the stuff that your neighbor has, nice house, nice cars, nice lawn, nice shoes and clothing. Jealousy and envy are driving you to keep ahead socially with stuff.
We also see here two reactions that an envious person could have. Either that “two handfuls with effort and pursuit of the wind” - working really really hard to have a bunch of material possessions, or, giving up on that and “folding his arms and consuming his own flesh.” - This is a reference to Proverbs 6. Giving up on work. And then poverty overtakes you like a robber.
Jealousy and envy could drive us to the twin errors of overwork in order to have lots of money to buy lots of stuff, or to giving up on that and having a victim mindset where you aren’t pursuing any work at all, and so falling into poverty.
Verse six offers the solution: “one handful with rest.” - Contentment. Do your work to provide for your needs and the needs of your loved ones, and to have something to share, and also enough margin in your life to rest. Lowering your expectations, perhaps your standard of living, so you’re not caught up in the rat race.
Exile
Ecclesiastes 4:7–12 (CSB)
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8 There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “Who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable task. 9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Verses 7-12 show us how self-exile, isolating yourself from others, harms us, and how companionship can protect us. The Teacher of Ecclesiastes is probably continuing with the previous thought, with the end of one who spends all their time trying to amass wealth and possessions, or who gives up altogether, they end up alone.
But the pursuit of material possessions isn’t the only thing that isolates us. Our attitude toward others also can. “They don’t get me.” “I can’t share this with anyone.” “I know better than they do.” “I can do it better by myself.” We’re pretty good at hiding what’s going on in our world, in our lives, hearts, minds. It is difficult to invite people in to our struggles.
It’s even possible to be isolated even when you have others around.
We can isolate ourselves in our ideological echo chambers, surrounding ourselves only with people that agree with us, and cutting off others who disagree. Or refusing to bring up topics we know will cause tension.
All these things kill community.
Look at the benefits of community in 9-12. “A good reward for their efforts” - partnerships can lead to success! “If either falls, his companion can lift him up.” - companionship brings physical safety! “Two can keep warm” - physical comfort! “Two can resist someone trying to overpower..” protection!
A cord of three strands is not easily broken - this is a verse that has been precious to me my whole adult lift. Its really saying, when it comes to companionship, the more the merrier! But I think its possible to make a deeper connection. This is a popular wedding verse. Nancy and I had it read at our wedding. A couple working together in life is a powerful thing, but how much more powerful when the third strand - Christ - is binding the two together.
Companionship is so important. And envy can kill it by focusing all your effort on aquiring material wealth, and pride can kill it by thinking you know better than others, so why take their input.Which brings us to the third killer of community.
Hubris
Ecclesiastes 4:13–16 (CSB)
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. 14 For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. 16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Hubris. Arrogance. Refusal to take input. Refusal to heed warnings.
Verses 14-16 seems to be an autobiography from King Solomon, describing the passing of the kingship from King Saul, to King David, to King Solomon, and Solomon reflecting that there are other kings coming who will forget him. We may be looking at Solomon self-indicting. Looking at his later years when he was caught up in the forgeign religion of his wives and concubines who turned his heart away from God.
Whatever we’re seeing the application is apparent. It doesn’t matter if you have all the power and wealth and position of a king. If you don’t know how to take advice, it would be better if you were a poor youth who did.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote or compiled over a dozen proverbs about the importance of heeding advice and correction. Here’s a sample:
Proverbs 10:17 (CSB)
The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.
Proverbs 11:14 (CSB)
Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.
Proverbs 15:22 (CSB)
Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
It’s sobering, then, that the same man who wrote ‘the wise man listens to counsel’ (12:15) ended up deaf to God’s warnings in his later years. It is possible to start well, but notice how verse 13 frames it: he “no longer pays attention…” He used to. But not anymore. In his mind, he doesn’t need any more instruction. Doesn’t need any more input. He knows the right way. He’s been doing it for years. What does anyone else have to teach him?
We never outgrow our need for input.
Notice that these Proverbs speak of “many advisors” - This is not about just doing whatever anyone tells you. It is about listening to a variety of perspectives and expertise with a heart to learn. In this way you “triangulate” wisdom from all of the different input you get. It is about being eager to learn and grow when many voices are telling you that you are off base.
But hubris, an arrogance that ignores all that and is right in their own eyes? That kills community.
Solomon’s observation is that this is the way the world works. And it is distressing. Futile. And it would be, if that were all there was to the story.
What hope do we have when we’re trapped in envy, exile, or hubris in our own life?
I struggle in each of these areas from time to time.
Self-exile is very tempting for me.
It’s easy for me to get trapped in the thought that I’ve done more reading and research in an area than anyone else, especially when it comes to theology and church leadership, and this makes it difficult to receive input. Some of you who have known me for a long time know this about me.
Am I just stuck?
Some of you can relate in other arenas.
For example, maybe we go into debt to buy stuff we don’t need so we can live up to what we perceive as required in our culture. We get stuck in a hole there but are ashamed to tell others about it so we struggle silently and don’t let others help, so we stay stuck, and further distance ourselves from others in our pain and shame. And slowly community shuts down. Whatever your particular struggle is, you recognize this cycle.
Are we just stuck? What hope do we have? Where can we find rescue?
Christ Rescues Broken Community
Ecclesiastes hints at a better way than envy, exile, and hubris. But if we’re honest with ourselves, experience shows us that mere willpower to try harder and do better fails us all eventually. Where can we find the power and the motivation to escape the traps we find ourselves in?
Let’s turn to Philippians chapter 2. The Apostle Paul shows us how Jesus entered into our world, that is so full of these things, and addressed them head-on. Let’s read and see how this passage directly addresses our three community killers.
Philippians 2:3–4 (CSB)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition [envy!] or conceit [hubris!], but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests [exile!], but rather to the interests of others.
And then he shows us how. What did Jesus do?
Instead of Envy: Joyful Sacrifice
Philippians 2:3–5 (CSB)
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself…
Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune God existed in perfection from eternity past with the father. But He didn’t consider this something to selfishly cling to, or to use for his own ends. He willingly, joyfully, stepped in to our world of futility, sacrificing himself for our good.
Instead of Exile: Companionship
Philippians 2:7 (CSB)
7 …He emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man…
He came to live among us. Took on all our weaknesses. Lived a perfect life. Got close to us so that we would know that he knows us. He didn’t stay distant. He didn’t look down on us for our imperfection, and He didn’t abandon us for our rebellion. This would have been the right thing for a holy and just God to do, but instead, He took a step toward us to offer us rescue.
Instead of Hubris: Humility
Philippians 2:8–11 (CSB)
8 …he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hubris, arrogance, a refusal to take advice, or heed warning often comes from a place of fear of losing power, prestige, or position. We don’t want anyone to know that we need help. We don’t like to admit we were wrong because we are afraid it will make people think less of us. But notice that Christ did not know that fear. He knew that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” - (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5) and don’t you want God’s grace?
Because Jesus entered into our envious, arrogant exile, and died for our hubris and pride, God exalted Him to the highest place! And Jesus invites us to follow Him there!
Because Jesus joyfully gave up heaven to sacrifice himself for us we no longer need to be trapped in envy and can instead give our lives to others. We can rejoice with them when they experience good things! We can offer what we have to bless others.
Because Jesus entered into our broken world to live among us, coming close to us in our sin and imperfection, we no longer need to be trapped in exile and can instead enter into companionship and community with his people. Serving them and loving them and welcoming them as he welcomes us.
Because Jesus humbled himself in obedience to God, even to the point of death, we no longer need to be trapped in hubris and are safe to listen to input, advice, and correction, knowing that we’ll only be blessed by the greater wisdom we can receive as we weigh the input of others.
Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection rescues community from envy, exile, and hubris.
His saving work gives us each a clean start and a foundation for forgiveness of others who have hurt us. He also gives example to follow to move forward.
And He is coming again soon to finally restore the community of His people once and for all!Then He will away every tear, cancel every debt, and heal every rift. We will feast with him forever, with restored hearts, praising the work he did to fix the community our sin has fractured.
I am looking forward to that day. How about you? And until it gets here, or He takes me home, Let’s be eager to bring as much of that day to this day as we can.
Let’s pray.
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