WISE WORDS FOR WISE ONES (9 OF 15)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
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Wise Words for Wise Ones (9 of 15)
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
A young man loaned an acquaintance $500, but failed to get the borrower's signature on a receipt. When the guy hadn't paid him back a year later, he realized he had probably lost the money due to lack of proof. He asked his father what to do. ''The answer is simple,'' his father said. ''Just write him and say you need the $1,000 you loaned him.'' ''You mean $500,'' his son replied. ''No, you need to say $1,000. He'll immediately write back that he only owes you $500, and then you'll have it in writing!''
This father provided worldly-wise counsel to his son who was able to receive profitable words in writing. Similarly, our heavenly Father provides spiritually wise counsel, and we can read His profitable words in the writings of the Bible. And who can't benefit from a bit more wisdom? In Eccl 7:15-29 Solomon says, Wise up by going low. By this he means, biblical wisdom comes through humility. In this passage, Solomon offers three provisions of wisdom.
1. Wisdom provides humility (7:15-18). Solomon discusses one of the most prevalent questions of human history: Why do good people suffer and bad people prosper? In 7:15 he writes: ''I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.'' The phrase ''I have seen everything'' is akin to the contemporary expression of disgust, ''Now, I've seen it all!'' Solomon is a bit miffed that there doesn't seem to be any correlation between one's goodness and one's lifespan. After all, God had promised that those who kept His law would prolong their life. Yet, Scripture is replete with godly individuals who died young (e.g., Abel, Stephen). We see this principle alive and well today. A young seminary student has dedicated his life to God's service. After years of preparation, he's ready to become a p ...
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
A young man loaned an acquaintance $500, but failed to get the borrower's signature on a receipt. When the guy hadn't paid him back a year later, he realized he had probably lost the money due to lack of proof. He asked his father what to do. ''The answer is simple,'' his father said. ''Just write him and say you need the $1,000 you loaned him.'' ''You mean $500,'' his son replied. ''No, you need to say $1,000. He'll immediately write back that he only owes you $500, and then you'll have it in writing!''
This father provided worldly-wise counsel to his son who was able to receive profitable words in writing. Similarly, our heavenly Father provides spiritually wise counsel, and we can read His profitable words in the writings of the Bible. And who can't benefit from a bit more wisdom? In Eccl 7:15-29 Solomon says, Wise up by going low. By this he means, biblical wisdom comes through humility. In this passage, Solomon offers three provisions of wisdom.
1. Wisdom provides humility (7:15-18). Solomon discusses one of the most prevalent questions of human history: Why do good people suffer and bad people prosper? In 7:15 he writes: ''I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.'' The phrase ''I have seen everything'' is akin to the contemporary expression of disgust, ''Now, I've seen it all!'' Solomon is a bit miffed that there doesn't seem to be any correlation between one's goodness and one's lifespan. After all, God had promised that those who kept His law would prolong their life. Yet, Scripture is replete with godly individuals who died young (e.g., Abel, Stephen). We see this principle alive and well today. A young seminary student has dedicated his life to God's service. After years of preparation, he's ready to become a p ...
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