i nsights into the m eaning of l ife e cclesiastes 10:1-20 w isdom c haracteristics
TRANSCRIPT
INSIGHTS INTO THE
MEANING OF LIFE
ECCLESIASTES 10:1-20
WISDOM CHARACTERISTICS
INTRODUCTION
• WISDOM has been a constant theme in Solomon’s search for the meaning of life
• Life is full of inequities• Foolishness can destroy wisdom• Wisdom is not always
appreciated—God’s or man’s!
ECCLESIASTES 10:1,2
“Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul
odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. A wise man's
heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his
left."
ECCLESIASTES 10:3,4
“Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows
everyone that he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not
leave your post; or conciliation pacifies great
offenses."
APPLICATION OF WISDOM
• One mistake and wisdom can disappear
• A little folly can devalue wisdom and honor
• One sin can destroy a lifetime of good
• A small fly in an expensive perfume ruins it and produces a foul odor…
• Little folly can destroy much good!• Heart of wise man keeps him on right
path—foolish heart does the opposite.– Proverbs 4:23
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• The fool lacks wisdom even in the simplest of acts
• Person’s conduct shows the course of their heart
• Fools’ deficiencies are evident to all—cannot be hidden
• Anger can be calmed by keeping one’s head– Proverbs 15:1
• Being calm in the presence of anger - a great benefit
ECCLESIASTES 10:5-7
“There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from the
ruler:Folly is set in great
dignity, while the rich sit in a lowly place. I have
seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the
ground like servants."
ECCLESIASTES 10:8,9
“He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever
breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.He who quarries stones
may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be
endangered by it."
ECCLESIASTES 10:10,11
“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the
edge, then he must use more strength; But
wisdom brings success.A serpent may bite when it
is not charmed; the babbler is no different."
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• Folly of human judgment• Sometimes poor character
evaluations cause many heartaches• Placing one in authority—ignoring
others more qualified—”under the sun”
• Favoritism and partiality often manifested in civil governments
• When unqualified and unworthy individuals are appointed—social unrest lies ahead!– Proverbs 19:10;
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• Often this kind of mistake is made in the Lord’s church (“Slaves on horses”)– Sometimes the best qualified are
the ones sitting on the sidelines—while others of less ability do all the work
– Called evil—why?– Incompetents frequently gain more
power—causing the majority to suffer• 3 John 9-11
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• Bold endeavors are sometimes disastrous
• Carefully look at a situation and think ahead what could happen
• Remember Haman and his gallows– Esther 7:9ff
• Simple tasks should be approached with caution
• Everything is subject to “chance”
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• “Axe is dull”• Preparing ones’ “tools” makes him
more efficient in the task undertaken• Wisdom is a valuable commodity
in protection from failure• Example: If one is going to have
success in teaching the gospel to others:– Must know God’s word– Must be a good student of the
book– Must have deep love for souls
PITFALLS TO AVOID
• Laziness will kill any talent that one may have
• Having ability does little good if we procrastinate in using it.– Psalm 58:4,5– Jeremiah 8:17
ECCLESIASTES 10:12,13
“The words of a wise man's mouth are
gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him
up; The words of his mouth begin with
foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving
madness.”
ECCLESIASTES 10:14,15
“A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be
after him? The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!”
ECCLESIASTES 10:16,17
“Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the
morning! Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the
son of nobles, and your princes feast at the proper
time-for strength and not for drunkenness!”
ECCLESIASTES 10:18,19
“Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of
hands the house leaks.A feast is made for laughter, and wine
makes merry; But money answers everything!”
ECCLESIASTES 10:20
“Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a
bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in
flight may tell the matter.”
FOOL’S LIPS
• The fool’s lips consume him in four areas:– His reputation—Ecclesiastes 10:3– His character—James 3:6– His impact for good—Ephesians
4:29– They ultimately consume the man
himself—Matthew 12:36ff
FOOL’S LIPS
• Fool’s talk begins with senseless, illogical talk—ends with irrational actions
• Fool multiplies his words– Proverbs 29:11
• No concept of present or future• His labor does nothing but weary
him• “Does not even know how to go into
the city”– Shows how he is unable to
accomplish even simple tasks
WISDOM OF A KING
• King is a child– Inexperience, immature, incapable
• King is son of nobles– Well trained, qualified and
respected• Feast in morning—proper times
– Eat out of “due season” instead of at proper times
– Eat and drink not for strength—but for gluttony and drunkenness• Proverbs 31:4; Isaiah 5:11
FAILURE TO THINK AHEAD
• Laziness of a fool—not always immediately felt
• Things break down over time• Lack of attention does have
consequences– Lack of attention causes things to
decay– “Raining cannot fix the roof now”– “Not raining, no need to repair
now” Proverbs 24:30-34
FOOL’S THEME SONG
• Feast/Food—solely for personal enjoyment
• Wine—so I can get drunk and make my life merry (shallow happiness)
• Money answers all problems— Money is good if used wisely– Such reasoning is very shallow– Failure to use these “gifts” in a
way that give good results
THOUGHTS AND WORDS
• “Cursing king” dangerous - has power and the ability to punish!
• “Cursing the rich” evidence of jealousy and envy– Need to practice self-control– Keep our petty opinions to
ourselves– If one would not speak “words” to
the face of a person—should not THINK them either
– Matthew 12:36,37; Romans 2:16
CONCLUSION
• Need to keep things in proper perspective
• True wisdom can be found only in the hands of prudent men (earthly viewpoint)
• Life presents us with choices and those choices can be helpful/hurtful
• Learn from Solomon’s “research” and “mistakes”