Ecclesiastes 4 There was a man all alone

Ecclesiastes 4
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. v8

Every man should have a son. I mean someone younger whose life you are helping to shape by encouragement, directing and praying.
Every man should have a brother. I mean someone who you can be accountable to, who will not let you hide and who will ask you the tough questions.
Without a son and a brother every man is alone.
There is a worse scenario though. This is the man without son or brother and without a friend also, “no friend to help him up”, v10.
There are some that are only friends for the sunshine, it takes the clouds of life to blow them away and then you are left with your true friends. Adversity, mistakes and failures will prove your true friend.
Jim was just a little older than his best friend Phillip and often assumed the role of leader, they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together.
After college they decided to join the marines. By a unique series of circumstances they were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side.
One sweltering day during a fierce battle, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned with the others. Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request.
Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms.
Jim’s commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk. “Your friend is dead,” he added, “and there was nothing you could do.”
“No sir, you’re wrong,” Jim replied. “I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were ‘I knew you would come.'”
Loneliness is no son, brother or friend.