Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (BBE)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

I am sure so many of us have heard the song “No man is an Island”. Denis Brown and Warp 9 had the same title but sang from two with different perspectives.
The phrase “no man is an island” expresses the idea that human beings do badly when isolated from others and need to be part of a community to thrive and stay healthy.
God did not create us to live alone, He made us to live communal lives with others as seen in Genesis 2:18. It is easier, better and stronger to withstand the enemy with more than one person-within partnership lies success because people combine strength, resources, talents and skills and the result of a combined effort is greater than one man’s result.
We find passages in the bible that support this idea like Hebrews 10:24 which admonishes us to not forsake the assembly of believers and in John 13:34-35, Jesus teaches us that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love we show one another, the love that is only visibly expressed within communities and isolated by self.
From the Old Testament’s regular gatherings at the temple, through the New Testament’s saints gathering on the first day of the week in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2, it is clear that God has intended for us to gather and associate with fellow believers and like-minded people who will positively impact on our lives, motivating and inspiring us to do and be better as prescribed in Proverbs 27:17.
How else could we love and serve one another unless we spend time together? How do we impact and motivate those we don’t spend time with or vice versa? Community living and influence is significant function of the Church because whatever we do and say affects others, especially family members, church members and friends. We all need each other, we were made for fellowship and togetherness, we don’t exist interdependently with people around us, we cannot live for ourselves according to Romans 14:7
Our text says two are better than, not about marriage only but applies to any partnership or in every aspect of life.
To be alone isn’t necessarily seen as negative, but when you add another person to your life the situation is usually supposed to be for the better. One of the keywords in this verse is “better.” This means that a better way, a more fruitful way to live life is alongside other people, to lean, support, and pick up each other.
There’s a reward in positive interaction and companionship, there’s always strength in numbers because, there’ll always be someone looking out for you, helping out, supporting and sharpening you- you can’t do these on your own or by yourself.
There’s comfort in companionship that every one of us needs for our journey, when we go through difficult times, we have a shoulder to lean and cry on, the compassion and affections of someone else is a soothing balm to a hurting person and the warm embrace of a loved one is refreshing to the weary.
We need each other, no one can succeed on their own, you are not and cannot be an Island, you must be part of a community to be fulfilled and to thrive.
Shalom