Warning: Knowledge Increases Sorrow

"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (Ecc. 1:18, ESV).

The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves.  It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge."  These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride.  With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response.  Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight.  However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom.  His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.

His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt.  Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation.  The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve.  Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.

That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn.  I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care.  Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.

Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*.  One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three.  You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true.  Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow. 

There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow.  First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land.  Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way.  Second, you now have the responsibility to do something.  Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty.  However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.

Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility.  If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn.  Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.


*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.