Relational Drift
Relational Drift | Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Pastor Russell Johnson
“9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
—Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, NASB95
Drift is the slow, continuous movement from one location to another, which is never good. We don’t drift into a better place. Positive movement requires clarity and intentionality; we neglect that truth at our peril. Last Sunday, we discussed drift as a metaphor for many aspects of these negative changes in life, such as organizations, work, and even theology. Today our focus is on relationships.
Discussion Questions
1. Who do you tell good news to first? How about bad news? If it’s not the same person, tell the group why and the difference between them.
2. When did you drift away from a close friend or loved one? How did it happen?
3. Today’s passage is often quoted, but it’s not entirely positive. Life is better with a companion, but one still experiences work, falls, cold, and attacks from outsiders. Even with intimate friendship, we are still subject to all life’s troubles. Do you have any durable, close relationships? How did you maintain them through trials?
4. In today’s message, Pastor Russell said, “A shared life is better than a solitary life.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. In May of this year, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, released an 85-page advisory declaring loneliness a new public health epidemic in the United States. Are you now, or have you ever been lonely? How big of a problem is it for you?
6. Read Genesis 2:18. If loneliness is a profound problem, why don’t people go out and make new friends?
7. God said he would find a helper “suitable” (literally. “corresponding to”) for Adam. How important is having “suitable” people as our companions in life?
8. Read Luke 10:1-6. When Jesus sent the 70 disciples out, he had them travel in pairs. What reasons for this can we determine from the passage? How were these traveling companions suitable for the ministry Jesus gave them?
9. Pastor Russell named four benefits of community and friendship in our passage. Can you name them? There is at least one in each of the four verses.
10. Are you part of a Small Group of believers who are invested in each other? If not, you can find one today, and Faith Bible Church will help. Click this link to get the process started https://faithbiblechurch.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/507/responses/new
Dig Deeper: The Value of Companionship
People celebrate the myth of rugged independence, praising the self-made, self-reliant individual. Yet whatever feats people may accomplish on their own, far more significant achievements are won by dedicated, united teams working together toward common goals.
The writer of Ecclesiastes recognized this. He placed a high value on companionship for four reasons:
Greater productivity. No matter how hard a single person works, he can rarely do as much as two people working together (Eccl. 4:9). A team has to expend far less effort to achieve the same results, and a team can maximize results through increased efficiency.
Access to immediate assistance. Sooner or later, everyone fails. It is only human to do so. But if someone is alone in failure, the results can be devastating—not just to the product, but to the person. However, by working in partnership, people have a buffer against failure. It is less likely to occur, and when it happens, companions stand by to offer consolation and help their friend get back on track (4:10).
Human comfort. The world can be a cold place. It can tear people apart without a second thought. That’s why it helps to have companions. They can offer comfort when life is harsh, not necessarily by anything they say but by being there (4:11).
Security. The world can be indifferent, but it can also be dangerous. One need not even look for trouble; trouble can come stalking on its own. But wolves tend to attack the solitary sheep, not the entire flock. That’s why it makes sense to travel through life in the company of others (4:12). There is safety in numbers.
Pastor Russell Johnson
“9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
—Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, NASB95
Drift is the slow, continuous movement from one location to another, which is never good. We don’t drift into a better place. Positive movement requires clarity and intentionality; we neglect that truth at our peril. Last Sunday, we discussed drift as a metaphor for many aspects of these negative changes in life, such as organizations, work, and even theology. Today our focus is on relationships.
Discussion Questions
1. Who do you tell good news to first? How about bad news? If it’s not the same person, tell the group why and the difference between them.
2. When did you drift away from a close friend or loved one? How did it happen?
3. Today’s passage is often quoted, but it’s not entirely positive. Life is better with a companion, but one still experiences work, falls, cold, and attacks from outsiders. Even with intimate friendship, we are still subject to all life’s troubles. Do you have any durable, close relationships? How did you maintain them through trials?
4. In today’s message, Pastor Russell said, “A shared life is better than a solitary life.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. In May of this year, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, released an 85-page advisory declaring loneliness a new public health epidemic in the United States. Are you now, or have you ever been lonely? How big of a problem is it for you?
6. Read Genesis 2:18. If loneliness is a profound problem, why don’t people go out and make new friends?
7. God said he would find a helper “suitable” (literally. “corresponding to”) for Adam. How important is having “suitable” people as our companions in life?
8. Read Luke 10:1-6. When Jesus sent the 70 disciples out, he had them travel in pairs. What reasons for this can we determine from the passage? How were these traveling companions suitable for the ministry Jesus gave them?
9. Pastor Russell named four benefits of community and friendship in our passage. Can you name them? There is at least one in each of the four verses.
10. Are you part of a Small Group of believers who are invested in each other? If not, you can find one today, and Faith Bible Church will help. Click this link to get the process started https://faithbiblechurch.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/507/responses/new
Dig Deeper: The Value of Companionship
People celebrate the myth of rugged independence, praising the self-made, self-reliant individual. Yet whatever feats people may accomplish on their own, far more significant achievements are won by dedicated, united teams working together toward common goals.
The writer of Ecclesiastes recognized this. He placed a high value on companionship for four reasons:
Greater productivity. No matter how hard a single person works, he can rarely do as much as two people working together (Eccl. 4:9). A team has to expend far less effort to achieve the same results, and a team can maximize results through increased efficiency.
Access to immediate assistance. Sooner or later, everyone fails. It is only human to do so. But if someone is alone in failure, the results can be devastating—not just to the product, but to the person. However, by working in partnership, people have a buffer against failure. It is less likely to occur, and when it happens, companions stand by to offer consolation and help their friend get back on track (4:10).
Human comfort. The world can be a cold place. It can tear people apart without a second thought. That’s why it helps to have companions. They can offer comfort when life is harsh, not necessarily by anything they say but by being there (4:11).
Security. The world can be indifferent, but it can also be dangerous. One need not even look for trouble; trouble can come stalking on its own. But wolves tend to attack the solitary sheep, not the entire flock. That’s why it makes sense to travel through life in the company of others (4:12). There is safety in numbers.
Posted in Sermon Notes