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Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 7

The Value of Practical Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 

In verse twelve at the end of chapter six the question was asked, "Who knows what is good for a person in life?"  It's a good question.  As shown in chapter six, we aren't to be trusted with this.  While we can find no advantage that keeps us from death, there are some things we can do to make our walk more meaningful and fulfilling.  The preacher starts with a good name; this is our reputation.  It's who we are, how we conduct our self; its our ethic and morals on display.  This is better than a fine perfume.  Perfume can cover up and hide reality.  A reputation is built over time and puts a life on display. 

 

We then get additional 'better' statements to build on this name.  Some, if not all, defy the logic of the culture and normal response of men.

  • The day of death is better because the race is run; no more pain, no more sorrow and affliction.  All the worst is behind us, eternity lies before.
    • If we can only find meaning in this life, death is the end, death is bad, final. 
  • Going to the house of mourning is better that that of feasting.  Death is inevitable, ignoring it by social gatherings and parties won't change a thing.  Facing death and dealing with it gives us a sense of the brevity of life.  This helps us keep our priorities in order.
    • If our hope is in this world, then death is the exit, the end.  Party while you can is then a contrast to enjoy life, find your purpose for now, today because we aren't promised tomorrow.
  • Frustration is better than laughter.  It's better to be serious about life.  Life is hard, take it seriously.  This shouldn't be mistaken for being sourpuss or cranky.  We can have a sense of humor and be joyful while being serious.  But life is not a joke, there are too many struggling and hurting.
    • The heart that has looked on death in the house of mourning and felt the sadness of loss is a heart that's been adjusted and prioritized for the brevity of life.
    • Not so, the heart of the fool who is ignoring and avoiding death by hiding in his pleasures.
  • Listening to the rebuke of the wise is better than the song of fools.  Listening to a rebuke is not pleasant but listening and taking it to heart will bear fruit in our life.  The song of fools is much more pleasant but offers nothing of value. 
    • The fools laughter is lie the crackling of thorns in the fire.  It makes a little noise and appears to offer heat, but neither amount to anything lasting or valuable.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:7

For all the lessons a heart might learn as detailed above, they can quickly be erased by corruption, extortion and bribery.  These things corrupt a heart, erasing the lessons and losing the priority and understanding of the value and brevity of life. 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

It matters not what is accomplished, believed or received in the beginning if you don't carry it through to the end.  The end is the payoff; the day of 'well done' from the master.  Humility, knowing our ability to stumble, fall and fail will carry us.  Pride is to ignore the pitfalls and invite trouble; trouble that will strip away our heart lessons.  Likewise, anger stokes those fires that burn wildly in our heart.  The tablet of the heart becomes damaged by anger.  The wise are slow to anger.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Why were the old days better than these?  The fact is, they weren't.  Stop fooling yourself.  Don't live in the past carrying regrets and longing for something that never was.  Today is today, here is here, now is now – God has you there for a reason, find it, do something with it. 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12

Wisdom and money both have a place; it can be a defense just like money can.  Inheriting money was a blessing and a good thing, but without wisdom it won't sustain us when adversity strikes.  Neither will prevent death, but wisdom is a good thing and offers benefit because wisdom preserves the life and the person. 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

God makes everything good, beautiful and perfect in its time and way.  If we see it as crooked, what could we do about it?  God provided good times, praise God.  God also provided bad times, praise God.  For it is in the bad times we grow and are stretched and reminded we must trust Him.  The good times can only be 'good' if we know the 'bad'.  God made them both to balance us.  He then arrives at a 'therefore' that seems to have nothing promising to deliver but the unsure aspect of life.  We don't know how long either will last.  Cherish the good times, learn our lessons quickly in the bad.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

The days appear meaningless, feel meaningless, particularly when we see the righteous suffering and dying while the wicked live long and prosperous lives in their wickedness.  Is there no justice?  Is there no reward for being righteous?  Is there no good that comes from it?  By all appearance there is none, both end in death.  You simply can't rely on wisdom and righteousness for a long and happy life.  Don't destroy your self in pursuit of meaning and purpose, it won't be found in these alone.

 

The balance to this advice is not to be wicked or a fool.  Don't just give up on life, on wisdom and righteousness and live a wicked life of a fool.  While it is not always the case, wickedness and foolishness often lead to premature death. 

 

In fear of God, we avoid the extremes:

  • Not caught in a trap of thinking meaning is found in our own righteousness.
    • Fearing God reveals we have no righteousness of our own – its all as filthy rags.
  • Not caught up in pursuit of the idol of knowledge and wisdom to arrive at meaning.
    • Fearing God keeps our eyes on His infinite, incomprehensible ways.  Who can know the mind of God?
  • Not jettisoning righteousness having given up on meaning
    • Fearing God teaches us to rely on Him, on our own we are a mess, chaos on the loose.
  • Not disregarding wisdom as if it weren't valuable; it is, just not for arriving at meaning.
    • Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom.  From the beginning we then learn our lessons; faith, hope, love, obedience, humility, patience, etc.  We then are more powerful than ten rulers. 

Fearing God keeps us balanced.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

This is Solomon's admission of failure.  He was determined to be wise and figure it all out.  He was going to write the book explaining the meaning of life.  Instead he wrote one saying it's all vanity, meaningless.  He admits the wisdom was beyond Him.  As the wisest man in the world, He came up short of putting all together and understanding any grand plan.  He simply said:

  • It was too far off.
  • It was deep, deep (most profound)
  • Incapable of being discovered

Even with his admission of failing, Solomon continues to be driven in what we know is futility for our benefit and learning.  It was a striving to understand, investigate, search out; all in an effort to see the scheme, the sum of all things.  Then from on high he might look down on the stupidity of wisdom and madness of folly and understand those also.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:26-29

This is one topic Solomon knew much about (See 1Kings 11:1-6).  While it seems it is a jab at women in general, it says more about Solomon than anything.  His seven hundred wives snared him and entrapped him.  How did he ever think this would end well?  Was he looking for contentment, perfection, variety, status among the nations, fame? 

 

From the trap and snares of having seven hundred wives, Solomon declares that he had not found one upright woman. And only one man in a thousand.  This 'upright' is defined as conforming to law, justice and morality.  This says more about the company Solomon kept of the people he allowed near him.  Regardless, the point is the same.  There is no final meaning, perfection or purpose found in our relationships, in and of themselves.  They are flawed because we are flawed.  God created man and woman perfectly in the garden but that perfection was ruined by their schemes.  The first scheme was to discover the knowledge of rebellion, of evil.  The schemes of man continue today. 

 

----

 

If we are working, searching and longing for some great prize or award in life, we'll find it meaningless.  If we spend life chasing after a prize, a reward of long life, a giant house, perfect wife, a vacation home or retirement dream we will be let down.  Remembering we were created perfect to live in the presence of God in the garden of Eden, it seems mankind works and strives for one of two purposes:

  • To serve themselves to be their own god and form their own garden in which they make the rules.
  • Or, they work to please god, find favor and return to that garden. 

Neither plan will succeed, there is no garden of Eden in this world.  The best we can do is understand the distance between us and God and why it exists.  Then enjoy this life abiding in Him with our eternal longing looking for that promised coming day. 

Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, "Who are you?"

"I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?"

The first teardrop replied, "I am a teardrop from the girl who got him."245[1]

 

We cry about what we can't have when we avoided twice the tears in not having it.  Our hearts remain incapable of informing us what we need or what's good for us, as these are clouded by our sinful desires.

 

Our meaning and hope is in Christ alone.

 

©2018 Doug Ford

 

 

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 79). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.