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10.28.2004    |    A threefold cord is not quickly broken
Ecclesiastes is useful to look at every now and again. Its theme may seem to be nihilistic at first, when it begins with the famous King James Version’s “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity".

But this Wisdom book has a very concrete theme – we are all under God’s judgment, and our lives are in His hands. So, we should, as the old saying goes, “fear the Lord” and do His will. As a reminder, “fear” in the old sense is not just the fear of death and damnation. It is beholding God with the sense of awe and wonder appropriate to our Creator.

In the business of how we may best live in this world, some particular verses for consideration. It is Chapter 4:9-12:
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Verses 9-11 are plain enough; two are far better than one. It is good to have someone to share life’s burdens. Then there’s the last part of that 12th verse: a threefold cord is not quickly broken. The clear meaning is that there is strength in numbers, and if two are better than one, then three are even better. But, perhaps, this is an echo of the Trinity, the ultimate strength, manifesting through the author of Ecclesiastes?

Just a thought for contemplation.

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About this site and the author

Welcome. My name is John Luke Rich, (very) struggling Christian. The focus here is Christianity in its many varieties, its fussing and feuding, how it impacts our lives and our society, with detours to consider it with other faiths (or lack thereof).

Call this blog my way of evangelizing on the internet.

Putting it differently, we're only here on this earth a short time. It's the rest of eternity that we should be most concerned about. Call it the care and feeding of our souls.

I was born Jewish, and born again in Christ Jesus over thirty years ago. First as a Roman Catholic; now a Calvinist by persuasion and a Baptist by denomination. But I'm hardly a poster boy for doctrinal rigidity.

I believe that Scripture is the rock on which all Christian churches must stand -- or sink if they are not so grounded. I believe that we are saved by faith, but hardly in a vacuum. That faith is a gift from God, through no agency on our part -- although we sometimes turn a deaf ear and choose to ignore God's knocking on the door.

To be Christian is to evangelize. Those who think it not their part to evangelize perhaps haven't truly understood what our Lord told us in Matthew 28. We must preach the Gospel as best we are able. Using words if necessary.

Though my faith waxes and wanes, it never seems to go away. Sometimes I wish it would, to give me some peace of mind. But then, Jesus never said that walking with Him was going to be easy...

Final note: I also blog as Jack Rich on cultural, political and other things over at Wrong Side of the Tracks

Thanks for stopping by.