RTW June 7
No Folly for Me
A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
Ecclesiastes 10:2
My Takeaways
Something Old
In fearing God, I avoid the extremes of being too wise or too good. Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
Something New
If I’m not pursuing wisdom, I am falling for folly.
The Teacher contrasts the wise person with the foolish person. These are words we use often, but let’s make sure we are certain of their meanings. Wise means possessing discernment, judgment or discretion. Foolish mean lacking forethought or caution. There it is in black and white. The right way is obvious. The teacher shares some insightful life instructions.
- Wisdom doesn’t argue with a king. (Ecclesiastes 10:4) The wise can discern a heated situation and know whether or not respond. If she chooses to reply, she will use good judgement. She does not let her emotions run amuck. The wise picks her battles. She knows that arguing with a “king” is foolish. “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end” (NIV) Proverbs 29:11.
- Wisdom works with a sharp axe. (Ecclesiastes 10:10) Wisdom works smarter, not harder. She takes the time to understand and learn all she needs to know about her assignments. She keeps her skills sharp by investing in training. No one would chop wood with a dull axe – it’s counter-productive. “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor” (ESV) Proverbs 12:24.
- Wisdom doesn’t handle snakes. (Ecclesiastes 10:11) Wisdom recognizes success comes from hard work. Get rich schemes are not beneficial in the long run. Those who abide by such trickery most often end up being bitten. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (ESV) Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Something to Do
Am I more likely to “argue with a king,” “work with a dull axe” or “handle a snake?”
-“Finishing is better than starting.” (Ecc 7:8a) Finish what I start!
-“I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun.” (Ecc 8:17a) Praise God for His attribute of being incomprehensible. From Jen Wilkin’s Book, None Like Him: I will make it my joyful duty, a delightful task to spend my life discovering who God is.
-“Accept the way God does things.” (Ecc 7:13) This requires faith and trust as I don’t always understand His ways.
-“Remember that nothing is certain in this life” (Ecc 7:14) So, enjoy the blessings of each day. Don’t spend time regretting the past, longing for the past, or worrying about the future.
“The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners and people who make promises to God or treat it like people who don’t.” -Ecclesiastics 9:2 With all the wisdom Solomon had he wasn’t born on this side of the cross. Death will come to us all, but as Christians it isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. Earthly death is not final for God’s people; rather it is a transition. As a Christian I need not fear death but can rejoice in it. For God promises me more. He sent his son, who gave his life for me. This allows my destiny to be different if I choose to love, believe and but my trust in Jesus Christ. What happiness awaits me on the other side!