Extremes of Life

Introduction: Solomon continues providing wise counsel for life. He expresses the concern that people who run after extremes will be ruined by living recklessly and without caution.

I. Extreme Prosperity of Life (7:11-14)

The Benefits of Prospering (7:11-12) - “11 Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life.”

Psalm 14:1-3 (HCSB) - “1 The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." They are corrupt; their actions are revolting. There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. 3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (HCSB) - “17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 [Instruct them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share,19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.”

Note: Solomon points out that having money is NOT a clear indication of having wisdom. However, he does point out that having wisdom will add to the benefit of prospering with money.

Verse 12: “12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.”

Proverbs 2:7 (HCSB) - “7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity”

Proverbs 2:11-2 (NIV) - “11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. 12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,”

Proverbs 18:10-11 (HCSB) - “10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

11 A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.”

Philippians 3:8 (HCSB) - “8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ”

The Beliefs in Prosperity and Problems (7:13-14) - “13 Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.”

Psalm 107:43 (HCSB) - “Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord's acts of faithful love.”

Ephesians 1:11 (HSB) - “11 In Him we were also made His inheritance, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,”

Psalm 119:71-72 (HCSB) - “71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes. 72 Instruction from Your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

II. Extreme Ends of Life (7:15-18)

Avoid Extreme Presumptuousness (7:15-16) - “15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?”

Jeremiah 12:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against You. Yet, I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? [Why] do the treacherous live at ease? 2 You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.”

Job 9:21-23 (HCSB) - “21 Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life. 22 It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.” 23 When disaster brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.”

Psalm 39:6 (HCSB) - “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow. Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them.”

Verse 16: “So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?”

Romans 12:3 - “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Romans 10:2 - “I can testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Philippians 3:6-7 (HCSB) - “6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. 7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”

Avoid Extremes to Please God - (7:17-18) - “17 On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?”

Psalm 55:23 (HCSB) - “You, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.”

Proverbs 10:27 (HCSB) - “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”

James 1:21 (HCSB) - “Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.”

Verse 18: “18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.”

Psalm 25:12-14 (HCSB) - “12 Who is the person who fears the Lord? He will show him the way he should choose. 13 He will live a good life, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them.”

Proverbs 3:7 - “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

Note: Verse 18 calls the reader to carefully consider the need for prudent consideration of the counsel of the text. Do not get caught up in self-righteousness nor in reckless sin.

III. Extreme Errors of Life (7:19-22)

Wisdom to Limit Errors (7:19-20) - “19 One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!”

Proverbs 21:22 (NLT) - “The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.”

Colossians 1:9-11 (HCSB) - "9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy”

Note: Godly wisdom provides strength and ability beyond human power.

Verse. 20 - “20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

In the days when there were fewer cameras and fewer photographs, and when it was an event in one’s life to have one’s photo taken, an evangelist with a party of friends was enjoying a pleasant Saturday afternoon in Rouken Glen, Glasgow, Scotland, on a lovely summer day. He carried with him a little leather case containing his Bible and, as he walked along, a company of young people out for an afternoon’s enjoyment approached him and said, “Please will you take our photograph,” thinking that the little leather case contained a vest-pocket Kodak.

Without a moment’s hesitation the evangelist said, “O, I have it already.” The spokesman of the party asked in surprise, “When did you take it? You must have got us on the hop.” “Well, anyway I have it here, and here it is,” said the preacher as he pulled out his well-worn Bible, opened it at Romans 3, and began to read to them from verse 9 to verse 23, “This is God’s photograph of every one of us,” he said, as he concluded his reading with the words, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Psalm 130:3 (HCSB) - “Lord, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?”

James 3:2 (HCSB) - “for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.”

1 John 1:8-10 (NIV) - “8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Words Said in Error (7:21-22) - “21 Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you.”

Verse 22 - “22 For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.”

James 3:9-10 (HCSB) - “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way.”