1. TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE (Luke 10:1-9; Eccles 4:9-12)

Solitary selfishness breeds misery repugnant to true Christianity. On the other hand there is much virtue in paired partnership. “Two are better than one,” so says the wise king. We cite several grounds for this statement.

Two persons will find more happiness jointly than either could find separately. Two labourers in the Lord’s vineyard will accomplish more in shorter time and with more joy than for each to labour alone. In 1950 two young men, converts of Dr John Sung during the revivals of the thirties, covenanted with the Lord to labour for His Kingdom. With a handful of believers forming a nucleus, they founded the Bible-Presbyterian Church of Singapore and Malaysia. Today their efforts, augmented by many fellow labourers whom God has raised within their number, have led to the establishment of over forty separated fundamental churches and groups in ASEAN (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei). Could they have achieved the same had each laboured alone? The Lord is their strength. “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” (Deut 32:30).

In Christian service, then, there is much merit to work in pairs. In April 1984, Calvary BP Church in Singapore inaugurated Gospel teams of two to go out witnessing at least once a month, and individually to speak to someone about the Lord at least once a week. This is of course patterned after the Lord’s example, sending the seventy two by two into the harvest field (Luke 10).

Then there is the divine institution of marriage from the beginning of the Creation. By this sacred bond “two shall be one flesh” (Eph 5:31), an endearing, loving and life-long partnership ordained of God for man’s happiness on earth. But, alas! The hardness of the heart and the unbridled lust of the flesh have brought about a rampant epidemic of easy divorce, with consequent disruption and disintegration of society. It was not so in the beginning.

QUIZ: What is the answer to easy divorce?

PRAYER: Father, save Thy people from the lust of sex.

2. HONOUR OR WEALTH? COMMONER OR KING? (James 2:1-6; Eccles 4:13-14)

Had you the choice, which would you have: honour or wealth? Solomon here affixes the stamp upon honour — man’s highest condition. But what is honour? Men commonly equate it with high position and royalty, but this assessment is not always true. The example in today’s text is of a king, regal with his crown, but foolish in his head. He had probably ascended to the throne without any fitness to reign, and persisting in his folly he refused advice. A man who lacks innate wisdom and yet declines counsel without a doubt bears the mark of a fool. “Old and foolish” (Eccles 4:13) speaks of a feeble mind and obstinate character. Surely that king wore a most unworthy crown.

On the other hand, we see a child raised in the slum or ghetto. Poor in circumstances and devoid of inheritance, he is compensated by a rich endowment of wisdom. Who then has more honour, this poor boy or the foolish king? Do you not see the lad as a pearl rising out of the dust and the king sinking into inglorious obscurity? Honour is where it is found, in youth and poverty. Real worth is not in outward pomp but in inner worth. From many a ragged home may emerge the richest gifts of moral and spiritual wealth — better than a monarch’s crown. God took Joseph out of prison and elevated him to the highest post. So with Daniel. True and lasting honour is with the man of God.

THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST

My dear reader, what is your heart’s desire? Choose life and honour and riches! From the prison house of sin, and from the bondage of Satan, Christ is able to deliver you and raise you up and make you sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6). This is the Gospel.

By faith in Him, the only begotten Son of God, you will be made partaker of His inheritance and have a part in the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8). Therein is the true honour.

QUIZ: Which would you rather be: a millionaire of 60 or a scholar of 16? Think!

PRAYER: Teach me to seek the approval of God, not the honour of men.

3. IN THE WORLD ENVY AND STRIFE (James 3:13-16; Eccles 4:15-16)

In today’s reading we backtrack to reconsider Ecclesiastes 4:4 and gain a valuable lesson. With penetrating insight, Solomon diagnoses a deep malady of society: unprovoked envy and hostility. Here is a man engaged in honest labour, working hard with his hands. He is not afraid of the grind or the grime. His mind is set on his work. He was, as one might say, minding his own business.

Then on to the scene enters his neighbour, a trouble-maker and busybody. He is provoked by the first man’s industry and his steady advancement. His evil mind will not rest, although his hands love to rest from his own necessary work. His own character suffers by comparison. He says within himself, “This will not do. He must not outstrip me.” Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). From then on, there is no peace.

Lord Bacon has this to say: “A man that hath no virtue in himself ever envieth virtue in others; for men’s mind will either feed upon their own evil, or upon other’s good. And who wanteth the one will prey upon the other; and who is out of hope to attain to another’s virtue, will seek to come at even hand by depressing another’s fortune.”

In society, then, the good honest man is faced with the prospect of being envied and hated by those whom he outshines. Same with the Christian, so that even godliness may provoke an evil response. If our goodness condemns the world, is it any wonder if the world hate us?

IN CHRIST RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE

In the society of believers, envying and strife ought to have no place. As children of the Father, let us strive our utmost to be like Him, “who is holy,

harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners …” (Heb 7: 26). Let us seek earnestly the wisdom from above which is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

Dear reader, recall our Lord’s words, to love our neighbour as ourselves. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour” (Rom 13:10).

QUIZ: What good or ill have you done to your neighbour?

PRAYER: Father, give me a heart like my crucified Lord’s.

God bless you dear readers.