Seeking Wisdom from the Author of Wisdom
Time and eternity are related concepts but different. They are not, as many believe, opposite sides of the same coin, so to speak. So we naturally ask ourselves: how can we define these concepts?
If you have ever thought about it, you realize everything we understand is because we understand its opposite. What is cold? Cold is the reverse, or opposite of hot. And high? It is what is not low. Wide? Think of narrow. Difficult? Easy. [Read more…]
“Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.” Ecc 4:7
Solomon spent much of his life in contemplation. He was trying to figure out life. He was trying to understand it. He took on the arduous task of narrowing life and all its components into one, cohesive conclusion: what is the meaning of life???
Each time Solomon thought he was getting closer, he would realize again that the mystical, ethereal answer was eluding him. In despair, after countless attempts to summarize it, his conclusion of life crumbled to a hopeless epitaph: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Ecc 1:2
One thing is for sure: Solomon didn’t live in pipe dreams. He was what we might call a “realist”. And there are some who would say he was a pessimist, a man who took a dark view of things. No matter how one sees his perspective on life, there is a significant fact that must not be ignored, and it is this: Solomon had every reason to be happy, perhaps more than anyone who has ever lived.
It is indisputable that he had riches beyond the imagination. He had worldwide power (I Kings 4:21). He had massive influence (I Kings 4:34). And he had wisdom (I Kings 4:30). How could one so endowed with everything that is desirable, have taken on such a despairing view of life?
I will tell you how. Because Solomon had experienced the “ultimate” – achieved the highest possible level of everything that is desired by people in all the world, he was uniquely positioned by God to offer the overarching, all-encompassing truth:
In chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes, Solomon told us about the mission he embarked upon to find happiness and contentment. He held nothing back. He explored everything that humanity has used and is using today to find that imaginary gem at the end of the fantastical rainbow.
He pursued it with wine (body stimulation with drugs). He built buildings and parks and gardens (accomplishment and achievement). He had slaves and servants and workers under him, at his service (internal power and influence). Vast herds of livestock and gold and silver (wealth). Treasures of kings and provinces (global power and influence). Singers and a harem of women (entertainment and pleasure). Wisdom and discretion (intellectual achievement).
Did he miss anything? I don’t think so. What Solomon pursued is essentially what everyone on the planet pursues, day by day, every day, to the end of their lives.
And what did he find? NOTHING. Nothing but vanity.
“Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecc 2:11
Pretty dark, huh? Yeah, maybe, but Solomon was just saying what was true. People may not want to openly confess that there is no lasting meaning in what they do all throughout the year. They may even put on a pretense of happiness and fulfillment. But that doesn’t make it real.
In truth, people have been experiencing what Solomon experienced from the far reaches of history to this very morning. Nothing has changed.
It does mean a lot more coming from a man who had everything intellectually, physically, situationally, mentally. If one who has achieved the epitome of life says it’s all meaningless and void…we’d better tune in.
The great writer of Ecclesiastes left us with some serious things to think about. He beckoned us to not waste time in the fruitless pursuit of things that have never, and can never, bring happiness. Instead, this weathered old man, having experienced all that the world could give him, arrived at the final, conclusive truth here in these words:
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecc 12:13,14
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
Like it or not, peer pressure is a reality for all of us, at any age. The people we hang with ultimately influence who we become. It is easy to think that as we mature, we move beyond all the silly influence of others, like it was when we were in school.
A closer look at humanity reveals something quite different: no matter the age, the social status, the location…people are drawn to be like one another, to follow each other, and to think as others think.
The writer of Proverbs knew this well. He pleaded with his sons to spend time with wise men, those of high moral character and lifestyle, because he wanted the best for them.
His use of the term “walks” in this verse is not by accident. Walking is a choice word; in this context it has the idea of a manner of life. It is a consistent, daily, step by step, progression through life.
In another sense, the Hebrew term “walks” is used of going on a journey. So when one walks, it is the method he applies to get to his destination. That destination finds its finality at the end of life.
As in most of the Proverbs, Solomon uses a two-part comparison, wherein he takes a principle, illustrates it with a concrete image, and then gives the opposite. This principle of two teaching method emphasizes simplicity – the writer doesn’t go on for pages saying the same thing over again or stating it in different ways. His brilliance is evident in his simplicity, his clarity.
Here, in stating “the companion of fools will suffer harm” he assures the reader of what happens if you don’t walk with the wise. Spending our lives with foolish people will eventually bring damaging results into our lives. And the application to us is clear: it is vital to choose companions who we want to be like.
I once knew a younger businessman who avoided people from his generation. He only spent time with older, successful businessmen. He would golf with them, have drinks with them, take them to lunch. Why? He wanted to be like them. He wanted to develop their mannerisms, habits, and schedules, because those men had made lots of the mistakes the younger guys were inevitably going to make, but had proven their skill in business by their ultimate success.
He was walking with the wise men, instead of hanging with the fools.
In a vastly more important sense, we are to do the same with our spiritual comrades. If we want to live with wisdom, it’s not going to happen by chillin’ with idiots. It happens by spending time – walking – with those who have gone before, experienced the losses and victories life, and come through with genuine wisdom.
There’s a journey ahead of us. Let’s start now…
Since the dawn of time, mankind has sought to lengthen his life and be happy while doing it. The hard fact is no one wants to die… we want to live, and live well. We want to be fulfilled, have friends, have influence, be successful, and do all of that for a long, long time.
Pretty simple and it’s never changed. What people want out of life is essentially universal. [Read more…]
“For the Lord gives wisdom… “
Like a pearl, wisdom is both hard to find and easy to lose. There is great encouragement in knowing two distinct truths: pearls of wisdom come from God, and it is He who protects them. When we diligently seek wisdom, God graciously gives wisdom and helps us to keep it. Wisdom must be guarded for the same reason we must seek wisdom in the first place: foolishness and lies abound and are in constant opposition to true wisdom. [Read more…]