Morning: The message, "Some Things You Need to Know," explored Ecclesiastes 7:19-29. Solomon places a gen of wisdom before us to guide us through the rest of Chapter 7. He says, "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers of a city." There is power in wisdom, but in order to attain it (wisdom and its power) we need to know a few things. We need to know our hearts, our limits, our weaknesses, and our world.
We need to know our hearts. To become wise we must know our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matt. 15:19). Solomon reminds us that "There is not a righteous person who always does right and never sins" (Ecc. 7:19).
Solomon reminds us that a self-absorbed, self-centered approach to life is dangerous. He warns against trying to overhear what others are saying, because we all know we have said things others weren't meant to overhear. Sometimes we feel like the elderly woman who said, "If you can't think of something nice to say about someone, at least make it juicy!" But it is better to leave well enough alone. We need to realize that hearts are prone to wander, and we need someone to give us a new heart.
We also need to know are limitations. The kind of wisdom Solomon was searching for is beyond human attainment. We can't get it, God must give it to us. Since our hearts are bent toward sin, we cannot discern the path of pleasing God on our own. That is what James reminds us of in James 1:5. As creature we have limitations. As sinners we have limitations. We must acknowledge those and seek wisdom that comes from above.
In addition to understanding our hearts and our limits, we need to understand our weaknesses. To paraphrase Solomon, "I'd rather be dead than ensnared by an immoral woman . . . again." Solomon had a serious woman problem. Today he would be in rehab for sexual addiction. His real problem is that he lacked discipline and was incapable of telling himself no. Although he appeared to be aware of the dangers, he took no action to prevent his meltdown. We must realize that God points out our faults (often through other people) so that we can keep our guard up.
As Solomon pursued the meaning of life, he came to realize that mankind's battle wasn't just an internal one. We need to know our world. The pursuit of godly wisdom is hard enough considering our hearts, our limits, and our weaknesses. But our world makes it harder still. To paraphrase Solomon again, "While putting the pieces of the puzzle of life together, I discovered that the world is a fallen place. "
Solomon had only known a few men he counted righteous. And he had surrounded himself with women without ever giving consideration to their moral character. Maybe he was attracted to their beauty, their wealth, their political connections, etc. Whatever it was, we can be confident that he wasn't looking for a Proverbs 31 woman. We know from elsewhere that Solomon knew and admired godly women, so what is his point in this analysis? Ultimately, the people we surround ourselves with will determine the ease or difficulty of our journey.
Wisdom is a noble pursuit. It gives the power to live a life that is pleasing to God, but it does not come easily, and it cannot be obtained by merely human efforts. If we come to know our hearts, our limits, our weaknesses, and our world, then we can navigate the difficult journey. We obtain wisdom by grace through faith, much like our salvation. As we put it into practice, it makes the journey easier. Now that you know the things you need to know, start pursing wisdom for the glory of God.
Evening: Business meeting.
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