7 And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun: 8 There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and 'he saith not', 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail. 9 The two 'are' better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but wo to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up! 11 Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat? 12 And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:7-8
(Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-8)
Frequently, the more men have, the more they would have; and on this they are so intent, that they get no enjoyment from what they have. Selfishness is the cause of this evil. A selfish man cares for nobody; there is none to take care of but himself, yet he will scarcely allow necessary rest to himself, and the people he employs. He never thinks he has enough. He has enough for his calling, for his family, but he has not enough for his eyes. Many are so set upon the world, that in pursuit of it they bereave themselves, not only of the favour of God and eternal life, but of the pleasures of this life. The distant relations or strangers who inherit such a man's wealth, never thank him. Covetousness gathers strength by time and habit; men tottering on the brink of the grave, grow more grasping and griping. Alas, and how often do we see men professing to be followers of Him, who, "though he was rich, for our sakes became poor," anxiously scraping money together and holding it fast, excusing themselves by common-place talking about the necessity of care, and the danger of extravagance!
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
(Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours hard to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship. In these things all is not vanity, though there will be some alloy as long as we are under the sun. Where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his Spirit come to them; then there is a threefold cord.