Ecclesiastes 9:13- 10:20

Picture of a scale in which qualities are measured. The winner is obvious, but the loser is promoted.

In this condition it is important to remember that

“You are not immune to foolishness”

This means that it is easy to abandon wisdom when you see foolishness promoted. Here are some examples:

You endeavor to faithfully love and care for someone and a better looking or more charming personality comes in and takes the friend away.

You endeavor to be diligent and the one with little planning gets by just as much success

You endeavor to speak with kindness and the one with a critical tongue tears down what you have done.

You save and get the bill that wipes out your savings while another spends freely and adds more to their wealth

This also means that you are not immune from the trouble that comes in a world that promotes foolishness

This also means that you are only saved from this by the wise humble leader- Jesus Christ

Here are two important questions that should be considered when looking at the reality that your are vulnerable to foolishness

Why are you not immune to it?

What are the advantages of wisdom?

Wisdom is better than might, but is soon forgotten

Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 NKJV

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 16 Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. 17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”

Wisdom is weightier, but is quickly overpowered by one small act of foolishness

Ecclesiastes 10:1–6 NKJV

1 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. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. 5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.

Example of Achan

Wisdom brings advantage to every day circumstances, but is easily disadvantaged with poor timing

Ecclesiastes 10:8–11 NKJV

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. 11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

Wisdom brings favor; foolishness brings demise

Ecclesiastes 10:12–15 NKJV

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

Wisdom brings honor to a land; foolishness brings a curse to a land

Ecclesiastes 10:16–20 NKJV

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning! 17 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! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 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.