Ever tried to grab smoke? No matter how hard you reach, it slips right through your fingers. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, looked at life "under the sun" and found that without meaningful relationships, everything is just that—smoke.
Summary:
In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon examines the search for fulfillment in relationships and highlights four major relational struggles: oppression, rivalry, loneliness, and deprivation. He explores the pain of isolation but then shifts to a powerful truth—friendship and partnership provide strength, support, and survival. The key lesson? You need a friend. And the greatest friend we have is Jesus, who laid down His life for us.
Reflection & Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Solomon calls life without God and meaningful relationships “grabbing smoke”?
2. How have you seen relational oppression, rivalry, loneliness, or deprivation play out in your own life?
3. In what ways have friendships helped you through difficult seasons?
4. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasizes the importance of partnership. How can you apply this in your relationships?
5. What does a “threefold cord” symbolize in your friendships, marriage, or faith community?
6. How does John 15:13-15 reshape your understanding of friendship with Jesus?
7. Do you struggle with isolation? What practical steps can you take to build stronger relationships?
8. How can you be a friend who lifts others up instead of contributing to rivalry or oppression?
9. What does 1 John 3:1 teach about our identity in God’s family?
10. What’s one step you can take this week to invest in a meaningful friendship or community?
Join this channel to get access to the perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMTXiJbuAVrF2hTJgnYK5qw/join
Check out all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at https://beresolute.org/
Get Vince's most widely read resource, The Daily Devotional, at https://beresolute.org/mdd
Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at:
https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/
Connect with Vince socially:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller