Ecclesiastes 4

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Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 (KJV) 1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter. 

 

2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

 3 Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit. 

Surprisingly to me was the first verse that states the oppress and the oppressor both need comfort.  If we as mere men saw a man being beaten, we would naturally try to save the one who is being hurt.  But Jesus said they both need me.  This was love on another level.

Solomon at this time did not introduce an answer, he identified a problem.  He concluded by stating that being dead is attractive or never having been born in comparison to being oppressed or being the oppressor.  

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 

He ruins his own flesh.  You destroy your life when we do not our work.

6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit. 

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 

Some people give an honest day work to make a living.  Others who are lazy, envy the hard-working man;  he makes a conclusion that shows he despises the hard-working man.  He creates and believes his own finding and shows a negative response toward his neighbor who has a job.  Solomon concludes or makes a comment by saying, perhaps it would be better if the guy who works with two hands only uses one hand because the neighbor who envies him does not think well of him or perhaps will try to take from him. 

Jesus called those who were working and showed them how to bring life into what they were doing.  Jesus never called a lazy man to be a disciple.

8 There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.

 9 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. 

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]? 

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

God does not want a man to be alone.  Working hard and consuming all to yourself is against the will of God.  In Genesis 2, God spoke after he made man and said, it is not good for you to be alone. Then God created a helper for Adam. Working hard to build your own money nest is not wise.  It is good to have someone to help you in time of need or vice versa.

13 Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor. 

15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 

16 [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

A poor wise child is a better leader than a king who refuses to listen. The king has been in prison himself, now reigns as ruler;  later he has sons who took his place and they too did not do anything different from the stubborn father they had who cause the people he led to be poor.  The people were not happy as long as his lineage was in control.