“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

We are not meant to be alone. Consider the first man, Adam - no one knows how long he was solitary, but God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” and created a soul mate, Eve. Two are better than one.

Humans need each other - we are social creatures and meant to share life’s burdens and joys with each other. I have a friend who takes marvelous trips across the globe by herself. She posts her pictures with dialogue daily - it is her way of staying connected to community. Don’t we all like to share when we experience something exciting or beautiful? It’s almost like it is too big to stay confined in our mind. Two are better than one.

I believe that is one reason we all have different talents - so that everyone is needed and no one can do everything themselves (don’t we try though??).

Solomon wrote practical advice in this verse, but perhaps it has a greater meaning. We can try to make a go of it without God’s help, but it will fail. Examples of this are liberal throughout the Bible. Ask Jonah - probably the best example of all.

We need each other, but look at how the passage in Ecclesiastes continues: Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Not two, but three.

We need the Holy Spirit as our pilot. Our partner. Our soul mate. Two are better than one. But A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Written by: Bonnie Chovanec, 2026