How to Have a Better Life (Part 1 of 2)

Introduction: The Purpose of Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 4 begins to weigh in more on the purpose of this book and its overall form and structure. It emphasizes making us desperate for what the book ultimately offers toward the end. It creates desperation for the conclusion of Ecclesiastes for two reasons. First, it is difficult to sit under so much demonstration of how hopeless life is apart from God. The depressing and pessimistic statements throughout the book make it a challenging read. Preaching through Ecclesiastes is not a good way to draw a crowd, as it takes a hopeless perspective on much of life.

One reason we look forward to the end is the capstone Solomon places on the book—a full force hammer of hopefulness that helps us cling to God and Him alone. Chapter 4 draws out more of that response because of the difficult, sad, and depressing concepts presented.

The main goal of Ecclesiastes is to break our hope in all things not God, giving us hopelessness in life outside a relationship with God. Once that worldview is broken, Solomon rebuilds our perspective of life, our worldview, and our focus on God Himself as the greatest joy and only hope. He gives a bleak perspective of the world to enhance our craving and desire for God and the hope and joy found in Him. Chapter 4 escalates this process.

Solomon shatters our desires for godless things and any hope in what the world offers. From chapter 4, three concepts show that our relationship with God is the only place for ultimate value and enjoyment of life. He does this by discussing what is better, using the comparative aspect throughout the book. Life without God is not just horrible—it is exceptionally horrible compared to life with God.

These concepts teach how to begin having a better life. There is a reality to having your best life now, but it comes through a committed, focused relationship with God. That's the point of this passage: how to have a better life, or a higher quality of life, even in difficult circumstances. The key is having God in your life.

Three points compare life without God to life with God:

1. The fortune of the dead.
2. The folly of the rich.
3. The failure of a king.

1. The Fortune of the Dead

This may be a difficult pill to swallow, but we view it by way of comparison: the life of someone dead versus someone alive without God. The point is not to die—that's better. Solomon first draws out how innocent people are oppressed by those in power.

I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. (Ecclesiastes 4:1)

Solomon sees something present in our context: social statuses. We talk about the middle class, the poor, the upper class, the 1% who could supposedly usher in a utopian society. Innocent people—good people sociologically or morally—are victimized by oppressors.

Every human bears God's image, and God is a God of justice, so we reflect a need for justice. Think of a loved one murdered: it's wrong, and justice is demanded. Even Romans says God's law is written on the hearts of Gentiles, including "thou shalt not murder." Solomon sees people treated unjustly, their tears with no comforter. This is vanity.

This contrasts with 2 Corinthians, where we find comfort in God and believers even in any circumstance. Here, there's no comfort. Oppressors in power oppress without justice. This raises questions: Why do oppressors get away with it? Why do bad things happen to good people and good things to bad people?

Theological answers say God has a purpose, works evil for good. From Ecclesiastes, Solomon's response is: both situations are vain. There's no comfort for the oppressed or the oppressors.

Oppressors might seem not to need comfort, exploiting for gain. But their endeavors are vain without God, as are the oppressed's experiences. We are capable of oppression through unchecked sin, even in romantic relationships by pursuing pleasure at others' expense.

Neither position is better; both are equally uncomfortable. A bully is not in a superior position or higher quality of life without God. Rising to oppressor status does not improve life without God.

But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 4:3)

Neither oppressor nor oppressed is better—what's better is never being born, avoiding life's evil. Death is the last enemy in the New Testament, but here it's a best friend. Solomon's point is not to pursue death, but how hopeless and wicked life is without God. Better not to be born.

Yet chapter 3 sprinkled hope: fearing God, worshiping Him, rejoicing in Him avoids this no-win situation. You don't have to choose oppression, being oppressed, or non-existence if you worship and follow God.

2. The Folly of the Rich

Solomon raises social statuses again, now the rich. They seem at ease—no sweating bills, extravagant vacations. Generational wealth sounds ideal. Even isolated, riches seem phenomenal.

You may not covet riches directly, but covetousness could lurk elsewhere: someone else's relationship, parents, education. These can be good things. Riches aren't inherently evil; a certain pay grade doesn't damn you. The issue is what pursuits reveal about our hearts.

Like the rich man told to sell all to follow Jesus, it exposed his heart. Or letting the dead bury their dead—good things become vain if they distract from God. Jesus, the new and better preacher, asks: What profits gaining the whole world but losing your soul?

The rich picture accumulating comforts not God, distracting from life's vanity. Is that you? Pursuing comfort to distract from vanity without God? Easier for a camel through the eye of a needle than a rich man entering God's kingdom if focused on this life over eternity.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4-6)

Hard work and skill without God stem from envy of neighbors' lifestyles. The fool folds hands and eats his own flesh—a horrific image of dissatisfaction. Like Isaiah 9:20, devouring but never satisfied, even one's own arm.

Whatever holds your affections apart from God will never satisfy. You'd devolve into repulsive behavior from insatiable cravings.

One person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are not satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and it is an unhappy business. (Ecclesiastes 4:8)

This person toils endlessly, unsatisfied, depriving himself of pleasure—defined in chapter 3 as pleasure from God's hand. Imagine toiling for billions of fish skeletons buried impossibly deep when a never-ending supply of ribeye is right here, accessible from God.

If you don't grasp God as enjoyable, you'll pursue unsatisfying things. It's an unhappy, vain business.

Two Are Better Than One: Context and Misapplications

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 presents the concept that two are better than one, a popular passage often taken out of context. You've likely heard it at weddings or in songs emphasizing romance, implying singleness is vanity and marriage brings bliss. But the New Testament shows that's not always true. Matthew 19 refers to those who remain single for the kingdom of God—permanent singleness can advance God's purposes, not vanity.

And there are also eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it. (Matthew 19:12)

Jesus told his disciples, responding to hard teachings on marriage, that it's not for everyone.

The text mentions two lying down together for warmth, which can imply romance, but emphasizes survival. Recall David in old age, unable to stay warm, where a woman was brought to lie with him non-sexually to preserve his life. Marriage offers benefits like physical, emotional warmth, and companionship. Even in defense—if one falls, the other helps—romance isn't required; two people with resolve suffice.

The threefold cord not easily broken is often applied to marriage with God as the third strand. That's valuable—you and your spouse plus God strengthen the bond. Yet God alone suffices for a strong marriage; equality among man, woman, and God isn't required.

The True Context: Relationships Over Riches

In context, this contrasts a lone wealth-seeker with those pursuing relationships. Fellowship and mutual care outweigh solitary pursuits. It highlights life without God, but also God's people in relationship, caring for each other. Two are better than one in fellowship.

Threefold Strength in Community

Three are even better, harder to break—like a cord of three strands. In marriage, this could be parents plus child, making divorce messier and harder, though not unbreakable. Relationships make us stronger. Without God, even a fourfold cord is irrelevant.