It Takes Two

Mama Said

It Takes Two To Tango

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV

Two to tango can mean a few things. For one, it takes two to fight. The second has a more positive spin and it means two working together can accomplish more than one can accomplish. There was also a very popular song that came out in

My Mama used the same saying for both. If we were fighting and each one was blaming the other. She

said it takes two to tango meant two to fight.

She also said it to get the two of us to cooperate in completing a task.

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 we are told, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their

toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not

another to lift him up!”

The son of David, King of Israel who wrote Ecclesiastes was a wise man.

It takes two can mean many things. In order to accomplish a plan, two people have different

strengths they bring to the table that’s even better, especially if they are not the same personality type.

Briefly the four types are not a new phenomenon . They are Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, and

Phlegmatic.

Sanguine personalities are generally optimistic and sociable. They seek what makes them feel good.

Cholerics are ambitious leader types who are not always patient.

Melancholic personalities are analytical, quiet, and detail oriented.

Phlegmatic personalities are relaxed, thoughtful, and they love peace.

The four personality types date back centuries and it is commonly believed that the Greek physician

Hippocrates was first accredited with noting the four types.

When I first studied the personality types years ago I was fascinated that my four children are a mixture of

all four. Generally thinking each one exhibited a primary with a secondary type.

When they were growing up our house was not a quiet place! There were squabbles from time to time but

there was a good mixture of phlegmatic and sanguine personalities that brought a heavy dose of laughter

to the table. When all was said and done we generally ended up laughing or walking away.

When I read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 I thought of the different personality types. The different personality

types are a part of the mixture and I have to wonder if the wise king thought about different types of

people.

When two people work together well it’s not uncommon for there to be two different primary and

secondary types. Two different personality types are better than one.

When one is primarily is a Melancholic and the other is primarily Sanguine they have the potential to work

together well. It’s also notable that in marriage or any long term relationship opposites often are attracted

to each other.

In a way even without recognizing it we look for strengths in other we do not have. Two are better than

one. The wise unnamed king who wrote Ecclesiastes really was onto something!

Deborah/acrazyjourney.com