Redeeming Toil

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”
— Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ESV)

Work is meant to be a gift. From the beginning, Scripture presents it that way—something good and purposeful, a way of participating in God’s creation and care of the world. For those of us leading missional enterprises, that vision resonates deeply. We long for work to matter, to reflect God’s character, to serve others, to bear fruit.

But if we’re honest, work often feels more wearying than life-giving. There are days when our efforts seem to come to nothing, or when we wonder whether we’re really making a difference at all. At times, even meaningful work can feel like a burden.

The Bible doesn’t brush past this. Instead of avoiding the unpleasant realities of toil, it faces them directly—acknowledging the weight of work in a broken world, while offering glimpses of real hope. We find one of the clearest pictures of this tension in the heart of Scripture, in the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes, particularly in chapter 4.

Three Ways Work Can Be Distorted

Ecclesiastes 4 begins not with idealism, but with a sober look at what work becomes when it is cut off from God’s purposes and community:

1. Oppression corrupts the workplace (vv. 1–3):
   The Teacher begins by lamenting injustice. Those in power often use their position to exploit others. The tears of the oppressed go unnoticed, and the very systems of labor are bent against those who bear the load. There is no comfort for them.
2. Motivation becomes envy or apathy (vv. 4–6):
   Work can swing between two extremes. On one hand, frantic striving driven by comparison—on the other, a cynical resignation that leads to withdrawal. Both are described as vanity. “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind,” the Teacher observes.
3. Toil without purpose or succession (vv. 7–8):
   The solitary worker accumulates wealth but has no one to share it with, no one to carry the work forward. He doesn’t even pause to ask why he’s depriving himself. It’s not just exhausting—it’s isolating and unsustainable.

These aren’t abstract ideas. Many who lead or labor in business know this reality firsthand: the ache of injustice, the loneliness of responsibility, the pressure to keep up, the temptation to give in or give up.

The Turning Point: Together in the Toil

But then the tone shifts. In verse 9, hope emerges—not in escape from work, but in companionship within it.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”

This verse is often quoted at weddings, but in context, it speaks to the shared labor of everyday life. There is something redemptive about walking together. When one falls, the other lifts. When one is cold, the other brings warmth. When one is attacked, the other stands in defense. And a cord of three strands—even better—is not easily broken.

Patrick Lencioni once remarked that “teamwork remains the one sustainable competitive advantage that has been largely untapped.” That insight resonates far beyond the corporate world. We were never meant to build alone.

For those of us in the missional enterprise space, this reminds us that business can be a place not only of service and witness, but also of fellowship. Whether through partnerships, mentorship, or shared vision, we reflect something of God’s own relational nature when we work together.

Verse of the Week

“… A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:12 (ESV)

Even as we acknowledge how our work is distorted in our broken world, let’s also pursue opportunities this week to experience the promised blessings of community in our missional enterprise endeavors.