The Bond Of 3 Cords | Part 1

I believe it is time to try something else a little different. I am planning on doing a three part series, with this one being…well…the introduction.

There are two reasons for me wanting to do this. The first is the most obvious…I have a tendency to ramble and/or get off topic. The second reason is in the fact that there is so much more to this fourth chapter of Ecclesiastes than the one verse everyone is familiar with, which is verse 12.

In the beginning of the chapter we see that Solomon, after his long life gaining wisdom, feels joyful for those who have passed away because they no longer suffer. They need no one. And yet, he was deeply saddened for those who are alive that are oppressed and suffer alone, as they have no one to help them, no one to comfort them, much less love them. He also shows concern for the unborn who will come into an already fallen world.

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.

I know Solomon’s idea of the oppressed and what I would call oppressed are probably different, but we all have one oppressor and that is the devil.

And he is crafty and a manipulator of the truth. He wants you to believe you are stuck with no one to help you, that you are indeed alone in your struggle and that it would be pointless for you to reach out to someone and seek help. Which is a lie by the way.

Solomon knew it was a lie as well because he turns right around and goes into how important it is having someone on your side.

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.

I know many use these last three verses in reference to the institution of marriage. And I agree one hundred percent with that assessment!

It is about marriage. But it can also mean friendship, family and yes…accountability. And that will be my main focus of this series.

In part two I will be discussing the aspect of finding someone to stand by your side by being your accountability partner.

In part three I will continue in the same vein of accountability but will take it a step further and incorporate marriage into the scheme of things.

This may not go like I plan but it’s worth a shot…here’s hoping 🙂

Stay tuned for the second installment…