Looking for Wisdom in all the Wrong Places

Ecclesiastes 1

If you will, turn to the book of Ecclesiastes.

I would like to thank your Pastor for the opportunity to speak tonight.

This is not something that I take for granted.

I would also like to think all of you not only for coming tonight but for simply allowing me to attend this church for the past little while.

This place has felt like home and I am very grateful for the kindness and hospitality that you have shown me and my family.

Not every church is like this place.

And because of that, don’t stop now.

Keep showing the kindness of Christ to everyone that walks in these doors.

We’re going to be in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 1 tonight.

Right after Psalms, there’s a book called proverbs, and after proverbs, there’s a book called Ecclesiastes.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a very unique book found in the Old Testament.

The writing style that is used in this book and the tone that is being presented, is one of intrigue.

While reading through this book, you can see that this book is not like the other books found within the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

You look at the book of Job and you see the ignorance that is shown within the dialogues between Job and his friends and compare that to the wisdom found within the Theologue at the end of the book when God rebukes the lack of wisdom within their words.

Solomon in his youth, wrote the Song of Solomon which stresses the power and preciousness of a true love.

Solomon, in the middle of his life, wrote the book of Proverbs which stresses the practicality of wisdom and other real life situations.

However, all of these entries into the wisdom literature of the Old Testament differ from the idea that is brought up in Ecclesiastes.

In other books you can see the positive approach to wisdom and the possibility of one actually reaching to the goal of becoming wise.

Compare that to the book of Ecclesiastes as the author speaks in a somewhat pessimistic way when he describes the pain in becoming wise.

It is a book that when reading it sparked a great interest and curiosity within the contents and background of the book.

Tonight, we will by necessity, have to read a lot of scripture.

We will begin reading in verse 1 of chapter 1.

The text says,

King James Version Chapter 1

Ec 1:1 THE words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

While this text can come across as hard to read and comprehend, it shows the warning of the preacher in such a powerful way.

A warning that shows the depths of sorrow that one can find themselves in when looking for wisdom in the wrong places.

Firstly, I think we should ponder a question that is central for an understanding of the entirety of this book.

In the understanding of wisdom we must ask ourselves, “what exactly is wisdom?”

Is wisdom simply knowing things?

No, wisdom is defined as moral goodness that is shown practically.

This definition however, leads to even more questions.

If wisdom is moral goodness shown practically, can wisdom truly be achieved in an atmosphere in which that objective morality is not present.

In a community where the things of God are not shown, discussed, and applied, can true wisdom be found?

This is a question that we will come back to later.

Within this portion of scripture we can see the beginning of the explanation of wisdom that is continued throughout the other 11 chapters.

The preacher states in verses 1 and 12 that the preacher that is giving us this story, has been the king in Jerusalem being the son of David.

This has led many to the idea of believing that king Solomon is the preacher that is teaching us the follies of this wisdom.

I believe that the preacher was indeed king Solomon based upon the things that he describes as being types of wisdom that he, in his life, strived to achieve.

There is a personal aspect of the narrative that is being told.

This personal aspect comes to life in the very words that he uses to describe the actions that he and others have partaken in to achieve or earn wisdom.

The preacher begins his argument in verse 2 by saying that all is vanity.

All is vanity and that there is nothing other than vanity.

But what does this word mean?

The word vanity simply means the quality of being worthless or futile.

A good synonym to the word vanity is the word empty, or emptiness.

The Preacher is solidifying the fact that wisdom cannot be truly achieved by looking to the world.

The words and tone of the message that the preacher uses, makes the message come across as a negative or pessimistic approach to life and destiny.

Due to the uniqueness in the approach to this message, some believed that the book of Ecclesiastes was not inspired of God and should therefore not be a part of the canon of scripture.

This belief was disregarded as simply a unique and differing approach to the correct approach to wisdom.

He says that the profit or benefit that one may find in the satisfaction of their labour is vanity.

It’s empty.

There is no lasting satisfaction found within the completion of ones labor.

The things that we complete in this life according to our labor or work do not fill up the wisdom that we should strive for in our life.

He goes on to rationalize his position by stating that generations come and go but the earth still abides.

The work that we do to continue our lifestyle is not going to bring us the sense of supreme satisfaction or completion.

People come and go and the things that they do come and go.

They do that which their hearts desire, provide for the well beings that they may have, and are killed by the passing of time.

Solomon tells the reader in verse 3 and 4 that looking for wisdom within the accomplishments of man is vanity.

Because we are wicked and prone to do that which is sinful, we must not search for wisdom in the accomplishments or works of our hands.

Verse 5 says The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

This hammers down the idea of speed within ones life.

Life is like a vapor which the wind blows away.

We have it for one moment and then the next, its gone.

So, is the preacher saying that our lives are pointless in this world.

Never, he is explaining in a very metaphorical way that the search for wisdom within ourselves and works, is completely useless.

There is nothing within our wicked hearts that can lead us to true wisdom.

In verse 9, Solomon says, The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

There is nothing new under the sun.

What does Solomon mean?

In verse 7 through 9, Solomon is speaking of the conformity of the world.

There are certain rules and standards that have been given to nature itself that will not be broken aside from divine power.

God has ordained the consistency of things all around us.

From the rising of the sun to its setting.

From the moving of the rivers to the moving of the seas.

The power of God over His creation tells of the true power and control that He has over everything.

He has the complete power.

In verse 12 we see the introduction to Solomon’s personal anecdote.

He begins to explain where he has been in life and what he has accomplished when it comes to the topic of wisdom and where to find it.

He masterfully explains the accomplishment and failure of his own life using powerful rhetoric.

He says,

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

The Preacher himself has ordered his life in a pursuit of wisdom.

This is consistent with the life of Solomon when Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom in 1 Kings chapter 3.

Upon his humble request, God gives him the wisdom that he has asked for.

He is granted the gift of wisdom in discernment.

Look at how the preacher describes the pursuit of wisdom in verses 13 and 14.

He says that God has given the desire of wisdom to men and that wisdom brings forth a severe pain.

How could this be?

Solomon has seen all that has happened during the course of his life and he has come to the conclusion that the pursuit of wisdom from the things in which he has observed, has left him sorrowful and in deep pain.

He has become discouraged because of the inability to truly grasp the wisdom that is enticed of this world.

In verse 17, he solidifies his position even more when he states that he has achieved much wisdom and knowledge but in spite of that, he has known great madness, folly, and vexation.

He has seen the wisdom of this world and has come to the conclusion that the wisdom that is within, is troublesome, painful, mad, and inevitably, not real.

In much wisdom, there is much grief and he that has a great deal of knowledge has inherited a great deal of sorrow.

This sorrow has come from the experience of Solomon.

He is telling his audience to not do what he has done in his life.

He is recognizing the folly and the mistakes that he has partaken in and is attempting to encourage his audience to not look to the world for wisdom.

This old man is telling the others to forsake the path that he has taken and make a new path that leads to true wisdom.

Do to the severity of the argument that Solomon is making, we must understand what Solomon says in the rest of this book.

If we had all night, we would need to read the entirety of the book to fully comprehend the thoughts that Solomon is relaying.

While we do not have that time tonight, you must know what Solomon writes of in the rest of the book.

In chapter 2, he writes of the vanity of pleasure and possessions.

Like in chapter 1, he goes on to clearly explain that there is no lasting satisfaction in the wisdom of man.

The joy that we find in pleasure and our possessions is futile.

It doesn’t mean anything because it doesn’t exist.

He explains that wisdom excels folly as he goes back to his earlier point of the vanity of labor.

In chapter 3, he writes that there is a time for everything.

The simple observations in life lead to an understanding but God has set eternity and a desire for this kind of wisdom in the heart of man.

In chapter 4, he writes of the tears of the oppressed.

He explains that there is vanity in everything.

In chapter 5, he tells the audience to fear God and avoid the vanity of riches.

In chapter 6, he describes the vanity of life.

He tells that there is a vanity in life when someone lacks the fulfilment that they need.

A very deep and powerful sort of emptiness.

In chapter 7, he contrasts true wisdom and folly.

He says that the righteous man will die in righteousness and that the wicked man will die in his evil ways.

In chapter 8, he tells his audience to keep the command of the king .

In chapter 9, he explains that mankind is the hand of God and that if one is to do anything, they are to do it with all the might that they possess.

In chapter 10, he explains the folly of a simpleminded fool.

The one who finds his sense of wisdom from the world.

In chapter 11, he writes of casting your bread upon the waters and the rewards of your labor.

And finally in chapter 12, he tells his audience to remember their Creator in their youth and then summarizes his argument.

The argument concludes in such a brilliant way that I feel we must read it together.

If you will, turn to Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and we will begin reading in verse 8.

The text says,

King James Version Chapter 12

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

He concludes his argument by telling the reader where they can find true knowledge.

In the past 12 chapters, he has explained the folly of trusting in wisdom from the world.

Vanity of vanities!

All is vanity!

Yet at the end of his life, he tells the reader that true wisdom comes from God and God alone.

Throughout the course of his entire explanation, he has used the same analogy over and over.

He describes the wind as a picture of the wisdom of this world.

One tries to follow the wind but eventually fails leaving them empty.

Another example of this is the analogy of the bubble.

Kids love bubbles right?

Someone blows some bubbles just for the kid to be amazed, in their eyes, a miraculous wonder that they are beholding.

They are utterly amazed by the presence of the bubble and the way that it floats though the air.

In their shock, they go over to the bubble and try to grab it with all their might.

To their surprise, as soon as they try to grab the bubble, it pops, disappearing forever.

Is that not the idea of worldly wisdom.

We are enticed by it and its beauty.

We do whatever we must to get to that wordly wisdom and whenever we try to grab it, it disappears leaving us standing there empty handed.

Vanity!

That is the vanity that the preacher has been describing this entire time.

That brings us to the question that I posed a few moments ago.

In a community where the things of God are not shown, discussed, and applied, can true wisdom be found?

According to the preacher, absolutely not.

Without the fear of God and the keeping of His commandments, there will be no sense of true, satisfactory, living wisdom.

You may have a sense of wordly knowledge or acceptance, but there is no lasting wisdom.

Only from God can that fulfillment be found.

In closing, we must ask ourselves, where are we searching for wisdom?

Are we searching in the way of the preacher or are we searching in a way that leads to true godliness?

Are we searching in a way that leads to satisfaction, or are we searching in a way that leads to sorrow?

This book has become one of my favorite books in the Old Testament because the teachings found within are so down-to-Earth.

To even begin the process of finding wisdom, one must kneel at the presence of an almighty God.

Have you called out to Christ as the only payment for your sins and transgressions?

If not, call out to Him in repentance and faith and you will begin the process of finding true and eternal wisdom.

This is a call to do that which is pleasing to God and forsake the wisdom of the world.

Are we looking for wisdom in all the wrong places?

Will you and I reject or accept the warning from the preacher?

Prayer