Godly Wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:17-18

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2 1 Godly Wisdom Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 Week 4: Day 1: 17 The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good. Where does wisdom come from and how do we stay away from foolishness? These questions have perplexed many, especially Solomon. Wisdom seems to be such a catch word even in our culture. The desire for wisdom is one that leads many to pursue advanced degrees, read many books, study for hours on end, and take part in lively discussions. Yet, is that how true wisdom is defined in the Bible? In today s verses from Ecclesiastes, we see wisdom contrasted with foolishness. Wisdom s source is different from that of foolishness. Foolishness is centered around me. Wisdom is centered around God. Foolishness is always represented as being opposed to God s ways and desires. A man s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord. (Proverbs 19:3) When we allow ourselves to act before and outside of God s provision and plans, our actions can best be understood as foolish. Throughout Solomon s writings in Ecclesiastes, we find that foolishness, the opposite of wisdom, is what happens when we get our focus off of God s desire and onto our selfish desires. The gift of true wisdom comes from God. Our pursuits of knowledge and understanding are all well and good, but nothing will replace the blessing of Godgiven wisdom in our lives. Notice, in Proverbs 2:6, how Solomon spoke about the gift of wisdom earlier in his life. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Wisdom s source is from God, not something that we can acquire on our own. Once it is received, wisdom must be managed properly. James mentions the divine origin of wisdom as he writes, Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5) In our desire to acquire wisdom, we are to go before God and ask for it. As James so boldly states, as we need wisdom, we can just ask for

3 it and it will be given. In the verse following, James adds that we should ask without doubting. One of the great enemies of Godly wisdom is self-doubt and doubting that God can provide for us. God s gift of wisdom stands in opposition to our pursuits of foolishness. Wisdom is not automatic, we must be deliberate in asking God for it and in using it in our lives. As Solomon mentions, the use of foolishness can destroy the best laid plans of wisdom. If we allow foolishness any place in our lives, we immediately begin to push away wisdom. Discovering the source of both wisdom and foolishness is key to learning how they can impact our lives. What are some areas in your life that are in need of Godly wisdom? Where have we found the foolishness of mankind? If we wish to obtain and grow in Godly wisdom, we must be willing to go before God and ask boldly for this gift. Without wisdom, we will be missing a significant spiritual and personal blessing that God is just waiting to give us. God s desire is that we ask for and grow in Godly wisdom throughout our journey with Him. Reflection: 1. In the space below, write out your own definitions of foolishness and wisdom: Foolishness Wisdom 2. List some areas in your life where Godly wisdom is needed? Prayer: God, wisdom is a blessing and gift from You that I can enjoy in my life. Please show me how to practice wisdom and move away from foolishness. May I grow in my love for You through practicing the wisdom that comes from You.

4 2 Fools and Sages Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 Week 4: Day 2: 1 Dead flies make a perfumer s oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man s heart [goes] to the right, but a fool s heart to the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. One day a young man walked into the financial office of a local car dealer to begin the process of securing financing for his new car. As the finance officer began talking with him and reviewing some documents, it became clear that a co-signer would be needed in order to complete the loan. As they continued to talk over the details, the finance officer noticed that the young man kept looking at the phone on the desk. The finance officer asked if he needed to call someone to come and co-sign the loan. With another look at the phone, the young man said yes and the finance officer mentioned he would need to dial 9 in order to get out. The young man rose, picked up the phone, pressed the number 9 on the keypad, then hung up the receiver and walked out. Perplexed the finance officer returned to his work and, a few minutes later, the young man came back in with his father. After all the loan papers were completed and signed, the young man and his father stood up and prepared to leave. The young man reached down, lifted the telephone receiver, looked at the finance officer and asked, So, do I still have to dial 9 so we can leave? It is often difficult for us to navigate the space between foolishness and wisdom. Wisdom is a difficult task to master, particularly when we can make one simple mistake and find that our foolishness has suddenly overtaken our efforts to find and practice wisdom in our lives. Foolishness is like a red shirt in the middle of a laundry load of pure white wisdom. Just one shirt will affect everything in the load. In today s scripture reading, Solomon underscores that point and illustrates the difference between wisdom and folly. His first point shows the pure nature of wisdom and how a small amount of foolishness can taint a large portion of wisdom.

5 In Solomon s day, perfumes were considered pure and were used judiciously to make oneself more pleasing to be around. Since daily baths or showers were not a common practice, a bottle of perfume would have been invaluable for daily life. If a fly were to get into the bottle, it would rob the perfume of its purity and ability to cover up. No matter how much wisdom we have established in our lives, a moment of foolishness can destroy our credibility and cause many to see our folly over our wisdom. We see this scene played out many times in our culture. Many people have worked long and hard to build reputations of honor, trust, and wisdom, only to allow that reputation to be destroyed by a moment of foolishness. Our foolishness speaks loudly to those around us. It is not hard to see. Wisdom is precious and pure. God s desire is that we pursue wisdom and seek it from the one true source of wisdom which is God, Himself. Reflection: 1. Describe an example of how one act of foolishness has tainted a life of wisdom. 2. What are some practices that help produce Godly wisdom in our lives? Prayer: God, thank You for the gift of wisdom in my life. Please, continue to protect me from foolishness so I might honor and glorify You in all parts of my life. May You continue to bless me with increased wisdom and opportunities to exercise that wisdom.

6 3 Obstructed Wisdom Ecclesiastes 10:6-10 Week 4: Day 3: 6 The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. 8 The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9 The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them. 10 If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. Heart attacks are an ever present medical crisis in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, an average of 1.5 million heart attacks occur each year. Blockage in the coronary artery from years of plaque buildup is the primary cause of a heart attack. In recent years, medical professionals have developed medicines and treatments to preempt these blockages and the heart attacks they cause. The development of blockages can cause problems immediately, or within a few years, and not just in our hearts. One of the great blockages that developed in Solomon s life was his obstruction of wisdom. Obstructed wisdom is a debilitating action for anyone as it prohibits our ability to think, judge, and act properly in many situations. God s desire is that we pursue wisdom and seek it from the one true source of wisdom, which is God, Himself. What are some of the ways we create blockages and obstruct God s wisdom from flowing freely in our lives? In today s reading, there are some illustrations of obstructed wisdom and examples of how things do not always happen as they should. In these verses, we see two things that obstruct wisdom - the actions of others and our own actions. From Solomon s experiences, we learn that we must, not only, understand our ability to acquire and practice Godly wisdom, but we must also

7 understand how it can be withheld from us. There is nothing new about foolish people occupying places of power. While in these verses, the word rich can refer to wealth, there is also the idea of being rich in wisdom. Since we cannot control others, we must be aware of how they influence our ability to capture wisdom. What we can control is our reaction to them and how we handle certain situations. In Ecclesiastes 6:8-9, Solomon referred to this kind of situation when he said, What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What [advantage] is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. Being mindful of others, our task is still to seek out and practicing Godly wisdom in spite of how others might act. Solomon points out that we all have daily tasks to perform, but our planning and diligence are critical elements in the outcome of those tasks. The preparation and care we take in going about our daily activities can protect us from a foolish fall. Just as it is harder to cut wood with a dull ax, it is harder to discover Godly success with dulled wisdom. We must be mindful of how we can be affected by others and how carelessness can affect our performance, blocking the flow of Godly wisdom into our lives. Reflection: 1. How have your own actions and the actions of others obstructed the use of Godly wisdom in your life? 2. What are some ways we can avoid these obstructions in the future? Prayer: God, please keep my path for wisdom clear and free from obstructions from others and myself. In pursuing Your plan for my life, help me to conduct myself in a manner that is pleasing to You. Please keep my focus on You at all times so I might glorify You in all my ways.

8 4 Words That Work Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 Week 4: Day 4: 12 The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? In January of 2006, Australian scientists discovered the cause of a mysterious disease that had killed thousands of Tasmanian Devils on the island state of Tasmania. The scientists initially believed the deaths were caused by a virus; however, their research ultimately uncovered a rare, fatal cancer. They named it Devil Facial Tumor Disease, or DFTD. What is strange, according to geneticist, Anne-Marie Pearse, is that the abnormalities in the chromosomes of the cancer cells were the same in every tumor. That means the disease began in the mouth of a single, sick devil. That individual facilitated the spread of DFTD by biting its neighbors when squabbling for food, which, according to Pearse, is a natural devil behavior: Devils jaw-wrestle and bite each other a lot, usually in the face and around the mouth, and bits of tumor break off one devil and stick in the wounds of another. Over the course of several years, infected devils continued to inflict deadly wounds with their mouths. Consequently, DFTD spread at an alarming rate, ultimately wiping out over 40 percent of the devil population. What kinds of mouth wounds have hurt you? How have you hurt others with mouth wounds? Our words can be a terrific encouragement to those around us, or they can be a damaging weapon. How we speak is often a reflection of the way we practice wisdom in our lives or allow foolishness to run-a- muck. So important is the matter of our words that the writer James, in the New Testament, said of them, So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body,

9 sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. (James 3:5-6) Because so much of our communication with others is done through speaking, our words, or, in James terminology, our tongues can encourage or destroy. Solomon knew, all too well, the power of our words, particularly as they related to wisdom and foolishness. Notice how words are used by the two different people illustrated in verse 12 of today s scripture. The wordplay illustrates how one builds up and the other tears down. The wise person uses words that bring him approval while the words of a foolish person bring him destruction. We see that the fool s words begin with folly, which may be better understood as silliness or childishness, and they end with complete insanity. In Proverbs 10:19, Solomon has this to say about words, When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise. How we control our words is a predictor of how we control foolishness. Words that work are ones that bring encouragement, exhibit wisdom, are controlled, and are spoken through a life devoted to God. We need to discover how to use words that work and practice them daily. Reflection: 1. What are words that have worked in your life? 2.How can you practice using good words to demonstrate Godly wisdom today? Prayer: Help me to remember that my words show others that I am practicing Godly wisdom or man s foolishness in my life. God, please give me words that work and show me how to stay away from foolishness in my speech. May I be an encouragement to someone who needs a blessing from You today.

10 5 Working Well Ecclesiastes 10:15-18 Week 4: Day 5: 15 The struggles of fools weary them, for they don t know how to go to the city. 16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a household servant, and your princes feast in the morning. 17 Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time for strength and not for drunkenness. 18 Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. There was a man who worked as a construction supervisor for one of the best homebuilding companies in the area. This man had put in many years of faithful work and was known as one of the best builders around. One day, he went to the owner of the building company, whom he had known for many years, and told him about his desire to begin retirement immediately. The owner looked over some plans on his desk and handed the man a folder. You have done such a great job for all these years and I know I can trust you with any project, the owner told the man. Before you begin your retirement, I would like for you to finish this one last house. This project is very important to me and I know you are the only one that can handle it. After it is done, you are free to retire with my blessings. The construction supervisor took the folder and thanked the owner for the opportunity, while secretly being disgusted by this one last job he had to take on before retirement. The construction supervisor went to the job site and began building this house. He rushed through many of the details, cutting corners, using inferior building materials, and pushing his workers to get the job done regardless of how it looked. While the house looked fine from the outside and passed all of the inspections, behind the walls, the house was rife with errors and substandard work. Soon the supervisor finished the home and presented it to the owner of the company. The owner then turned to the supervisor, handed him the keys to the front door and the title to the house. This house is yours. It is my thanks for all the years of excellent work you have done for us. The owner then got in his car and left the supervisor holding the

11 keys to a house that would require major work to keep in presentable shape beyond a few years. How we work is an indication of our character and our use of wisdom. One continual source of encouragement in the Bible is that our work is not in vain. It is not easy to pursue hard work everyday. The desire and opportunity to do things halfway is often present. Our encouragement is that our efforts and work are valuable, if for no other reason than they showcase our faithfulness to God and the blessing of Godly wisdom on our lives. As King of Israel, Solomon had seen many people working in his kingdom over the years. He saw people who worked hard, those who did enough to get the job done, and some who would not work hard at all. The evidence of wisdom in their life was seen primarily through their work ethic. There is a time to enjoy rest and celebrate holidays with others. There is also a time to work hard and tend to our responsibilities. Paul s encouragement for the Ephesians was this, Don t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God s will from your heart. Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:6-8) How we see our work is an important indicator of how we actually do our work. Are you doing your work in order to get the tasks done and get by? Are you working in order to exhibit wisdom and glorify God through excellence? Our jobs are meaningful ways we can contribute and show how we have been blessed by God.