10. Get Wisdom!

Introduction

General: “We live in a world where information is widely privileged over wisdom… It is a world in which no one ever thinks to ask whether twenty-four hour news channels are a good thing, a world in which… information technology is a more important… college class than philosophy, a world in which “Have you heard the latest?" is a more pressing question than “Do you know the truth?”… The truth is that we have never known so much and understood so little.” —Iain Provan, 2001

Personal: We don’t lack information. We lack wisdom. Information ≠ wisdom. Knowledge ≠ wisdom. Education ≠ wisdom. Status, power, position, popularity, athletic ability, a platform, wealth… these things aren’t the same thing as wisdom.

Subject: What happens when a society has an abundance of knowledge but a shortage of wisdom? Big on information, but small on understanding?

Biblical: In the passage today, Solomon answers that question. It applies to any group of people: a nation, a state, a business, an organization, a church, a family. Read Eccles 9:13-10:20 (ESV).

Big Idea: A society that lacks wisdom is like a foolish man who doesn’t know who he is, what he’s doing, or where’s going. A people who lack understanding cannot understand themselves, don’t know the right thing to do, and wander aimlessly because they don’t know the way.

Body

A society that lacks wisdom is like a foolish man who doesn’t know who he is, what he’s doing, or where he’s going.

Exposition

The foolish man thinks he’s wise because he has status, wealth, and popularity (Eccles 10:5-7).

A fool knows nothing, but thinks he knows everything. He loves to hear himself talk (Eccles 10:12-14).

The fool thinks he’s God’s gift to the world, but doesn’t realize the truth (Eccles 9:17-10:1).

Illustration: A society that lacks wisdom is arrogant and cannot see its own flaws or acknowledge its own mistakes. People don’t take responsibility for their actions. We have all the information in the world at our fingertips, but we cannot even understand ourselves.

Application: But in Jesus, we understand who we are (Titus 3:3-7). We are heirs of eternal life… be who you are.

A society that lacks wisdom is like a foolish man who doesn’t know who he is, what he’s doing, or where he’s going.

Exposition: Ignorance, Incompetence, Impatience

The foolish man is ignorant—he doesn’t recognize true wisdom (Eccles 9:14-16).

The foolish man is incompetent (Eccles 10:8-10; 18-19).

The foolish man is impatient (Eccles 10:11).

“It is easy to be constantly dissatisfied with the present. Most of us are stuck in the habit of looking to the next best thing, which we believe will finally secure what we most desire. In our impatience, we dislike and disregard the present while longing for a better tomorrow. Yet living this way is to turn our back on life itself. As Christians, we are called to live life fully in the present moment, even when the present consists of toil, grief, or pain.”

Illustration: A society that lacks wisdom is ignorant, incompetent, and impatient. People are never satisfied. For all our prosperity, we feel empty. We have all the information in the world in our pockets, yet we don’t know what to do with our lives.

Application: But in Jesus, we understand our purpose (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:19-20). We are called to be witnesses and make disciples.

A society that lacks wisdom is like a foolish man who doesn’t know who he is, what he’s doing, or where he’s going.

Exposition: Eccles 10:2-3, 15… When Corinne and I went hiking in the mountains in Colorado… When the trail splits, the fool takes the wrong loop and gets lost.

Illustration: A society that lacks wisdom is a society that’s lost. It doesn’t know where it’s going, or even that it’s on the wrong path. People lack direction, and waste their lives chasing a happiness they never quite catch. We have all the information in the world on our phones, yet we don’t know how to be truly happy.

Application: But in Jesus, we understand the way (John 14:5-7). Jesus is the way. The meaning of life is found in a relationship with God as our Father.

Conclusion

A society that lacks wisdom is like a foolish man who doesn’t know who he is, what he’s doing, or where he’s going.

How should we respond?

Not with anger or pointing our fingers at everyone else to scream, “You fools!” See Eccles 10:20.

Like Jesus (Matt 9:35-38)… With compassion first, and then with mission.

“We call need wisdom from above… if we are going to know what life is all about. We all need to know Truth… We will not find this Truth by watching TV talk shows, sitting in classes with eloquent college professors, or listening to professional athletes. We will find it only in God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, who is the touchstone of all reality and the focus of all wisdom. It is in Jesus… that we will find the solid Rock on which to stand and against which to measure all the truth claims that people make about the world… It is the house built on this ancient Truth that will be found standing at the end of time.” —Iain Provan

On what are you building the house of your life?