June 17, 2025

I once knew a man who had tried love, failed, and ended up living the rest of his life alone. He had set it in his mind to become wealthy, and he did. He got up early every morning alone, went to his office for coffee, sat there alone reading the newspaper, and then set out to work the rest of his day. He kept all his wealth for himself, never sharing it with his family to help them, though they stood firm and needed nearly nothing. He spent as little as possible on employees, and with all that he accumulated, he acquired a considerable amount of property. He spent what he had on frivolous things that made him think he was happy but only proved he had the means to buy whatever he wanted. When he died, he was alone, and all that wealth became his children's. It didn't help him in the ever-after, and it caused excessive work for his children when they had to sort out his estate. Now, they have more than they could ever use. Will they follow in his footsteps and keep it all to themselves, or will they help their children and prepare the estate so that when they pass, they won't have to worry? Though this man was well-loved by his children, he could have helped them in their younger years by giving them a boost, but that's my bleeding heart wishing for my children not to struggle by providing them with anything they needed if I could. Solomon mentions a person like that, so it brought this man to mind. Solomon's point was that it is better for a man not to be alone and that two or three cords are stronger. Would he have been more generous if he had someone to remind him to help others? Perhaps, but it's unlikely. 

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Ecclesiastes 4:8-9