Stronger TogetherStronger TogetherEcclesiastes 4:6-16Ecclesiastes 4:6-16

Sin Sin isolatesisolates us from others. us from others.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-8Ecclesiastes 4:7-8

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.were not content with his wealth.

"For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless — a miserable business!meaningless — a miserable business!

The Life No One WantsThe Life No One Wants

• No one plans to be No one plans to be alonealone. .

• Greed and envyGreed and envy destroy relationships. destroy relationships.

• The end result is The end result is miserymisery..

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: return for their work: 1010 If one falls down, his friend If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! no one to help him up! 1111 Also, if two lie down Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? keep warm alone? 1212 Though one may be Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. of three strands is not quickly broken.

When More Is BetterWhen More Is Better

• We are We are incompleteincomplete without others. without others.

• Relationships affect our Relationships affect our spiritual healthspiritual health..

“ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has and there remember that your brother has something against you, something against you, 2424 leave your gift there in leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” brother; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 Matthew 5:23-24

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: return for their work: 1010 If one falls down, his friend If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! no one to help him up! 1111 Also, if two lie down Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? keep warm alone? 1212 Though one may be Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. of three strands is not quickly broken.

When More Is BetterWhen More Is Better

• We are We are incompleteincomplete without others. without others.

• Relationships affect our Relationships affect our spiritual healthspiritual health..

• Community provides Community provides power, safety, and strengthpower, safety, and strength..

John 15:13-15 John 15:13-15

““Greater love has no one than this, that he Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. lay down his life for his friends. 1414 You are my You are my friends if you do what I command. friends if you do what I command. 1515 I no I no longer call you servants, because a servant longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”have made known to you.”

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

““Better a poor but wise youth than an old but Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. warning. 1414 The youth may have come from The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. born in poverty within his kingdom. 1515 I saw that I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. the youth, the king's successor. 1616 There was no There was no end to all the people who were before them. end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”after the wind.”

The Winds of Pride and PopularityThe Winds of Pride and Popularity

• Pride Pride isolates usisolates us from others. from others.

• Popularity is Popularity is pleasantpleasant and and vaporvapor..