Pursuing Worldly Wisdom: An Empty Pursuit
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Growing up in the Philippines I learned to love Siopao, specifically the Asado flavor. But as time goes by I noticed that there is some kind of suspense when eating it today. How? I love the dough part but I look forward to the meat section of Siopao. The problem is the dough part is getting big and the meat part is getting small. In the past it takes three bites to finish the meat part but today, one bite and that’s all, you have gone through the meat already. Compared to 40 years ago, the Siopao that I eat today is mostly dough and less meat. There no satisfaction eating Asado Siopao with hardly Asado in it.
Solomon’s conclusion regarding the pursuit of wisdom is like eating Siopao today. You buy this sizeable Siopao thinking that the amount of meat is proportionate to the size but to your disappointment there’s not much meat. There is all that dough but not much meat. The dough has become the main attraction instead of the meat. Might as well describe it as Siopao and with a hint of Asado. Instead of being filled with food, you are filled with disappointment. How disappointed? It depends on how much enthusiasm and excitement you had getting into it.
How did Solomon pursue wisdom?
How did Solomon pursue wisdom?
What did he learn from comparing wisdom with foolishness.
What did he learn from comparing wisdom with foolishness.
What was Solomon’s conclusion?
What was Solomon’s conclusion?
How did Solomon pursue wisdom?
How did Solomon pursue wisdom?
He committed to the pursuit of wisdom to point that:
1. He became the wisest King to rule Jerusalem.(v.16)
1. He became the wisest King to rule Jerusalem.(v.16)
16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
Few verses back he said in v.13 he studied everything in this lifetime
13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Through hard work in pursuing wisdom God gifted him with extra ordinary wisdom - let’s call it double portion of it.
God facilitates the delivery of wisdom involving man’s efforts.
As a provider He makes you work for it. Putting energy to it help you appreciate the blessing of God.
It pleases God to give what we ask that pleases Him.
Knowledge vs. Wisdom
Knowledge vs. Wisdom
Knowledge is the accumulation and understanding of information.
Knowledge is the accumulation and understanding of information.
Wisdom is having the ability and the sense to discern and apply correctly from the knowledge one has gained.
Wisdom is having the ability and the sense to discern and apply correctly from the knowledge one has gained.
With knowledge some commit to the pursuit of happiness.
With knowledge some commit to the pursuit of money.
With knowledge some commit to the pursuit of a career.
With knowledge some commit to the pursuit of deeper and higher knowledge and wisdom - that was Solomon!
In a ladder, one gets to the higher step through the ones below it. Wisdom, when applied properly, will pave the way to more knowledge. It takes wisdom to gain more wisdom.
The result of Solomon’s passion and commitment made him the wisest in the kingdom.
He gained wisdom in several areas: ARTS, SCIENCE, LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY, LANGUAGES, RELIGION and IN TRUTH and many more.
What do we know about Solomon’s Wisdom other than being extensive?
What do we know about Solomon’s Wisdom other than being extensive?
What made it possible or knowing what the bible says, should we ask who made it possible?
a. It was the result of a special blessing from God.
a. It was the result of a special blessing from God.
What made it special? When God asked him what he wanted, he could have asked for material things but instead he asked for wisdom.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
8 “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
What did God think about his request? He showed it in how He answered him:
10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
What did God say?
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
13 “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
b. Sample of Solomon’s Wisdom in Action
b. Sample of Solomon’s Wisdom in Action
Story of two prostitutes claiming owner ship of a child found in 1 Kings 3:16-28.
Two prostitutes shared a house and gave birth to sons three days apart. One of the babies died, and each woman claimed that the living child was hers. Solomon ordered that the child be cut in half and divided between the women, knowing that the true mother would rather give her baby up than allow any harm to come to the child. Thus, the baby’s true mother was revealed.
c. The Extent of Solomon’s Wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34)
c. The Extent of Solomon’s Wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34)
29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
His wisdom was as extensive as the number of sand that is on the seashore.
31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.
33 He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. 34 And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
2. He pursued it by comparing wisdom to foolishness. (v.17)
2. He pursued it by comparing wisdom to foolishness. (v.17)
17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.
A big component of wisdom is not just knowing what’s right but also knowing what’s wrong.
Man’s has come up with many ideas but together with it also came up some absolutely absurd ones.
Man’s God-given intellect is also being used to come up with some of the most ridiculous and stupids ideas lacking in common sense and logic.
Some lack purpose and value at all.
Some people spend their time on worthless and foolish things. We don’t have to look beyond the course of listing of many major universities to agree with Solomon on this point.
Let’s compare the some of the greatest and some of the most of senseless ideas or inventions that mad ever came up with.
Let’s compare the some of the greatest and some of the most of senseless ideas or inventions that mad ever came up with.
A Few Great Ones
A Few Great Ones
1. Mirror
1. Mirror
2. Transportation
2. Transportation
3. Electricity
3. Electricity
4. Computer
4. Computer
5. Tools - car, kitchen, lab, etc.
5. Tools - car, kitchen, lab, etc.
Some Bad Ones
Some Bad Ones
1. Fashion - design
1. Fashion - design
2. Bullet holes stickers on cars
2. Bullet holes stickers on cars
3. While elephant gift ideas - HANDERPANTS!
3. While elephant gift ideas - HANDERPANTS!
What was Solomon’s conclusion? (v.17-18)
What was Solomon’s conclusion? (v.17-18)
Solomon applied wisdom in choosing what were the things that were worth pursuing. He learned to distinguished between was worth pursuing and what was a waste of time. But with all the wisdom he had necessary to commit to this quest this is what if learned:
1. Pursuing wisdom was like chasing the wind.
1. Pursuing wisdom was like chasing the wind.
Being the smartest man in the world did not mean a thing. It did not provided true fulfillment in life.
Having achieved, gained and possessed everything that all of us want in life he concluded, it was like grasping for the wind. Meaningless and it did not satisfy.
Solomon looked at all of his degrees, all of his education, all of his books, and all of his writings, and he concluded that ultimately were meaningless and unsatisfying.
Think of this pitiful scene:
Think of this pitiful scene:
Here was a man who literally had the world bowing at his feet.
He had the admiration of the rest of the world’s kings and their subjects.
He was esteemed by all of the world’s scholars and their students. They came to him and offered great sums of money and treasure for a moment of his time. The rich, the powerful, and the great—all looked up to him and longed to learn from him.
He was a genius and yet he felt empty inside.
Knowledge and wisdom were great things and worthy to be gained, but they did not make Solomon completely whole.
They did not bring him true and permanent satisfaction. They did not fill the longing of his soul.
2. With increased wisdom also comes increased grief.
2. With increased wisdom also comes increased grief.
Gaining more knowledge about life is similar to deep sorrow as resulting of one’s person’s death.
His quest also lead him to see and understand human pain, ignorance, suffering and failure.
18 Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.
A. He saw sorrow in what he learned.
A. He saw sorrow in what he learned.
Some of life’s experience cause sleepless nights - Michael Jackson
Overwhelming success can cause sleepless nights.
Problem also causes sleepless nights.
A recent visit to Los Angeles left me with a scared memory of the rampant homeless situations today.
Satan promised Eve increased knowledge if she disobeyed God but it was of different kind.
Even gained knowledge but it was the kind that she and all of us who came after her would have been better off without.
What Solomon is trying to teach us today is this:
Gaining of knowledge in many ways makes a person’s life harder, not easier; sadder, not happier; emptier, not fuller.
Gaining of knowledge in many ways makes a person’s life harder, not easier; sadder, not happier; emptier, not fuller.
Think about this concepts.
You need money to make money.
When you become financial secure you also need more security.
Among the people commit suicide are celebrities, accomplished and rich individuals.
Some of the funniest comedians are the actually depressed and sad.
B. He saw sorrow in what he could not fix.
B. He saw sorrow in what he could not fix.
With all the wisdom Solomon possessed he could not solve all the problems in the world.
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.
C. He experienced sorrow brought about responsibilities that came with wisdom.
C. He experienced sorrow brought about responsibilities that came with wisdom.
D. There was sorrow in what he could not figure out.
D. There was sorrow in what he could not figure out.
He felt the frustration in knowing that despite all the things he knows, being the wisest man in the world, there were still some things he did not know.
He could not find what he was looking for.
What did he have a lot of?
Knowledge
Women
Wealth
Power
Kingdom
Children
What was Solomon’s Frustration
What was Solomon’s Frustration
Lack of understanding and meaning that lead to “long lasting” satisfaction and fulfillment
Lack of understanding and meaning that lead to “long lasting” satisfaction and fulfillment
What was the cause of is all?
What was the cause of is all?
Abiding in the Lord
Abiding in the Lord
Solomon started good in sense that he was close to God but as God continually blessed him he lost track of what was important. He was knocking at the wrong door, he was headed for the wrong direction, wrong road, wrong question.
He is portrayed as great in a lot of things, he had everything that man could think of but he also was great king who sinned.
What were Solomon’s sins?
What were Solomon’s sins?
A. Wisdom brings with it some risks when not used properly.
A. Wisdom brings with it some risks when not used properly.
Idolatry
Marrying foreign women
Ultimately, turning away from God leading to the kingdom's being torn in two during the reign of his son Rehoboam.
Corruption started to settle in his heart. A great example is found in 1 Kings 6:7, explaining the timeline and the manner in which he built the temple of God.
38 The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul, during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.
But when it was time for him to built his house it took him 14 years.
1 Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction.
Considering the length of time he took to build the Lord’s temple vs. his own own home was quite a disparity. In other words he considers himself twice as important as God.
Later on in 1 Kings 10:14 it says he had Solomon got 666 talents of gold.
14 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,
666 as we know is a number signifying danger.
B. Knowledge puffs up.
B. Knowledge puffs up.
1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
We now live in a time when man has greater knowledge than ever before.
During the twentieth century, man’s knowledge increased at a rate never before seen. The human race learned, achieved, and advanced technologically more in one hundred years than it had in all the previous existence.
The knowledge of the human race has grown, but most people have wandered further and further away from God.
The most educated and brilliant individuals are often the furthest from God.
The most educated and brilliant individuals are often the furthest from God.
C. Knowledge from God should be use for His purposes.
C. Knowledge from God should be use for His purposes.
Solomon used his god-given wisdom to be productive.
But then he use it for his glory far above the glory he gave to God.
God gives us gifts, God blesses for the edification of the body of Christ. Remember was Paul said in Romans 12:1
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
He may be talking about using our bodies for His glory but this also extends to our material possession.
What we do with our material wealth is a reflection of where our heart is.
Take the time to look at your bank statements and your budget, how much is being use for the advancement of God’s kingdom compared to how much goes toward self-gratification - wants. How big is the disparity?
Summary
Summary
There is temporary satisfaction in pursuing what is temporary. Pursue God who dwells in eternity and yourself. will reap everlasting satisfaction, the kind will last all the way to eternity.
There is temporary satisfaction in pursuing what is temporary. Pursue God who dwells in eternity and yourself. will reap everlasting satisfaction, the kind will last all the way to eternity.
No buyer’s remorse with God!