The Blessing of Companionship (Ecc 4:5–16)

In the midst of the frustratingly confusing mysteries of life, God has blessed us. He has given us the responsibilities of life to bring us fulfillment, but only an understanding of eternity and death enables us to enjoy the gifts that God has given us in this life. The foolish, godless man destroys his own life because of his refusal to acknowledge God (4:5).
One of the blessings God has given us is companionship: sharing our lives with others. How fruitless and unfulfilling life is when one has no other person with which to share it (4:7–8)! A life is truly lonely without any companion. What point is there in stockpiling goods and accumulating wealth if you have no one to leave it to? Therefore, the Preacher concludes, two people are better than one person alone, because they find fulfillment in one another (4:9). In addition, when one person falls, his companion can help him up again, while someone who is alone has nobody to help him (4:10). Two people can keep each other warm (4:11), and there is always safety in numbers (4:12). The Preacher uses a braided rope as an example of something that is made stronger by additional strands.
Life teaches many lessons, but if one does not learn these lessons, old age is not a blessing, but a curse (4:13). A foolish old man is even worse than an inexperienced young man, because the older man can do more harm, since others will follow him (4:14–15). However, history will show the error of his ways (4:16).
Perhaps we think of our families and friends as nuisances or things that get in the way, but God has provided companionship to make our lives fulfilling. God has given you parents who care about you, many of you have brothers and sisters, and you have friends who can encourage you. What kind of a companion are you? One who is a blessing, or one who is foolish and a curse to others?

From Dust to Dust (Ecc 3:16–4:4)

Although our infinite God has given us the responsibilities of life to bring us fulfillment, as we look around, people are not fulfilled. The Preacher saw that wickedness abounded in the earth (3:16). This did not bother him, because he knew that God would judge it in his time (3:17). The sobering reality is that wicked or not, man or beast, everything in this fallen universe exists under the curse of death (3:18–19). Man was created by God from the dirt and after death, he will decompose and return to dust. In fact, the Preacher coins the famous phrase "from dust to dust" (3:20). An understanding of eternity and death drives us to enjoy the gifts that God has given us in this life (3:22).
Furthermore, life is full of difficulty and oppression. It seems that the weak are oppressed by the powerful, and nobody can seem to stop them (4:1). Sometimes it seems as if death is the only way to get away from this kind of oppression (4:2). The Preacher, however, says that even better off are those who have not yet been born and have not seen the evil in the world (4:3). His conclusion is that mankind’s envy, not God, is the source of all this oppression and conflict (4:4). The difficulties of life are caused by man’s self-centeredness and his desire to put himself first.
Perhaps you feel like life is unfair and that you are constantly being pushed around and never able to meet your goals and dreams. Perhaps you are bitter at God because of things you have not been able to do. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Only by pride cometh contention." In other words, our pride is the cause of interpersonal conflict, arguments, and strife. When you feel like everywhere you go there is conflict and difficulty, you should check your own heart for pride. When we insist on doing things our way, when we want to do them, it always causes conflict. This too is a futile "striving after wind."

One Way to Fulfillment (Ecc 3:9–15)

Although life often seems frustrating and futile, God has appointed each of the seasons of life (3:1–8). People may blame God for difficulties and hardship, but these come from his all-knowing and gracious hand. Likewise, the good things of life are gifts from a loving God. How can we experience fulfillment in our lives?
Each one of us has tasks in front of us. These include school, jobs, responsibilities at home or church, sports teams, music lessons, and a host of other things. What is the profit in doing these things (3:9)? The Preacher’s answer is that these responsibilities are given by God (3:10), and he makes everything beautiful in its time (3:11). Each of the different tasks in life are carefully directed by God, and he will cause them to flourish in his perfect timing.
Being made in the image of God, mankind has an innate desire for something beyond this temporary life. He has an eternal longing that cannot be satisfied with the physical and earthly (3:11). We must realize that the eternal and infinite God has ordained these tasks for us (3:12). The work and responsibilities and opportunities that God has set before us are his gift to us (3:13). God is infinite and eternal; he knows what is best and lasting joy and satisfaction can only come from him (3:14–15).
You and I may look at the work before us at school, upcoming responsibilities or obligations, and be discouraged. How can we ever get through all this work? Or we may look ahead and say, “There is no end to the demands of life— I just want to give up.” We must realize that our infinite God has given us these jobs to satisfy us and fulfill us. We must submit to his direction and plan because trying to find fulfillment in ourselves is futile. God’s gift to you is the work before you. Do it for his honor and glory (Col 3:23; 1 Cor 10:31). Realize that God will reward us for obeying him, even if we never receive any reward on this earth (Col 3:24).

A Time for Everything (Ecc 3:1–8)

Life to the Preacher seems frustrating and futile. Although they have been given by God (2:24–26), knowledge, enjoyment, and hard work are unsatisfying. How does this work? In chapter three, King Solomon writes a beautiful passage that contrasts the varied times and seasons of life, appointed and directed by God (3:1).
Life involves both birth and death, times of growth and times of decline (3:2). Times of pain and hurt as well as healing and recuperation are part of life (3:3). Life brings joyful times and sorrowful times (3:4), stages that involve accumulating possessions as well as getting rid of things. There are times of close friendship and times of loneliness (3:5). Gain and loss, saving and spending (3:6), tearing and mending, are all part of life. There are times when it is best to be silent, and there are times when one must speak up (3:7). Life involves periods of friendship and intimacy, as well as times of animosity and personal conflict (3:8). All of these contrasting things are part of life as God has given it to those whom He has created in His image.
Many times you and I are discouraged or disappointed when life doesn’t seem as wonderful as we had hoped or dreamed. Life is not a fairy tale or story book where everybody always lives “happily ever after.” When we encounter difficulties in our daily lives, both small and large, we can get upset, frustrated, confused, or even angry with God.
However, we must remember that everything in our lives (even difficulties and sadness) come from the sovereign hand of our God. Nothing escapes his control and nothing is outside of his goodness. As we read in the New Testament, everything that happens in our lives is for our benefit— it helps make us more like Jesus Christ (Rom 8:28–29).