29. Finding Wisdom’s Benefits

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Hymns: RHC 393 Deeper, Deeper RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne RHC 386 Be Thou My Vision

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

– Finding Wisdom’s Benefits

Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. 15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

 

OUTLINE

  • Wisdom Is Safety (v11-12, 14)
  • Wisdom Is Security (v13-17)
  • Wisdom Is Strength (v18-22)

 

INTRODUCTION

True wisdom begins with the fear of God.

 

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 

The God fearer submits to the will of God and find peace and joy and prosperity of the soul.

Solomon says in verse 18 “for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.” The God fearer finds victory in life because he imbibes heavenly wisdom for his lot in life.

The Apostle Paul puts it in his own words…

2 Timothy 3:10-11 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

God’s wisdom was practical strength for him to live life triumphantly. For him, God’s wisdom is not theoretical but works for him in everyday life.

It begins with the fear of God, a holy attitude in life to follow after God, to do His commandments. Solomon shares with us what this entails.

 

(1) Wisdom Is Safety (v11-12, 14)

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it…

It saves you from the landmines of life. It teaches you how to live with an inheritance. Wisdom is required how to rightly mange and improve our worldly possessions (Matthew Henry). The prodigal son lives wantonly and wasted his inheritance and was in want.

Better to have wisdom than an inheritance without wisdom. There is great profit that comes with godly wisdom.

Swindoll says well, “With an inheritance comes the pitfall of pride. Wisdom preserves us from that.”

A man who has a good inheritance may be profited by wisdom, because it will show him how to manage it to the best advantage. (Clarke)

Daniel put God first in his life. He prays three times a day. He will not defile himself with the idolatries of Babylon. God prospered him by giving him wisdom to live in safety amidst danger.

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

It teaches you how to live in prosperity and in adversity.

Swindoll observes well, “With affliction comes the pitfall of doubt and disillusionment. Wisdom preserves you from that.”[1]

Daniel trusted God to lead and guide him in enemy territory. Even in the lion’s den, God delivered him. Even in a change of regime when the Babylonians were ousted and the Persian came into power, Daniel remained a trusted counsellor to the kings. His wisdom is from God. He was very much attuned to the voice of God and the God’s purpose for the ages.

Daniel’s God is our God. God’s wisdom is our wisdom as we seek Him.

Our Lord Jesus exhorts us in Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 Truly, it gives life to them that have it. As Jesus said to the woman at the well in Samaria in John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

 (2) Wisdom Is Security (13, 15-17)

13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?… 15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?  

 

In the sense that your heart is at rest with God whatever the external circumsatances in life. The child of God knows that God is still on the throne. He is willing to submit himself to God’s will.

The man of God who hides in the wisdom of God will learn how to interpret the apparent injustices and wickedness of this world by resting in the sovereignty of God in ordering all things after His own will. He will not become bitter.

Swindoll says well, “With the anticipation of relief, vindication, even rewards from doing what is right comes the pitfall of resentment and bitterness. Wisdom preserves is from that.”

Truly, men ought always to pray and not to faint. Prayer is the believer’s power with God. Persistence in prayer is not the natural habit of the believer.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how is your prayer life? How can we fortify our hearts so that when extreme adversity comes, we will not give up on the Lord?

By way of application, in working life, it is not uncommon during crisis time to shift responsibility, pass the bug, by finding a scapegoat whenever things go wrong. We may find ourselves unjustly blamed, accused, the mistake is not from us but we have to bear the consequences.

As an admonition, do not take matters into our own hands and seek revenge ourselves. The Bible tells us when our enemy thirst, give him drink, when he is hungry, gives him food. In this way, you provide a way for them to repent.

God says vengeance is mine. But we are often quick to react, and that’s how war starts, our tendency is to overreact (Be not righteous over much). We are taking vengeance without giving them an opportunity to repent whilst God desire not anyone to perish but all should come to repentance.

Hence, the Lord is saying, leave it to Me, I will do it in My time. If we leave things to God, we will continue to pray. We leave it to God to do it in the right time and in right measure.

Realize also that anyone that touches you touches “the apple of My eye”, the Lord says. The eye is the most sensitive part of the body. We are most precious before God this is the endearing term “his own elect”. God is using your tribulation to work repentance in their hearts. Therefore there is no need to take revenge. God will do so in His time. Continue to trust Him.

 

(3) Wisdom Is Strength (v18-22)

18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

We said in our introduction – the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is strength when it leads us to humble ourselves before God. To realize that we are sinners saved by grace. There is nothing innately good that we can boast that we possess. It is only by the grace of God that we are what we are. If God has not provide us with strength, we shall not take the city.

21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

Wisdom teaches us not to learn to forgive offences against us. Matthew Henry said well, it enables us to “wink at many of the injuries that are done us, and act as it we did not see them…Be not solicitous or inquisitive to know what people say of thee; if they speak well of thee, it will feed your pride, if ill, it will stir up your passion. See therefore that thou approve thyself to god and thy own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee…Be not enraged at those that speak ill of thee, or wish ill to theee, for oftentimes, in that case, if thou retire thyself, thy own conscience will tell thee that thou thyself has cursed others, spoken ill of them and wished ill to them, and thou art paid in thy own coin.”

Indeed, the fear of God leans us to humility.

James 4:6-7a But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God…

 Be Submitted to God – it means “to put under” which means “to obey”. It is a command, it appeals to the will, there is no option if we would like to receive God’s blessings again. This word is first used in Luke 2:51” And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

=The word to submit is a voluntary act of placing oneself under the authority of someone else to show respect and obedience. This submission is to no man but to God. But it helps us to reverence authority. Let us put aside our pride and come before God. And this word to submit stress the beginning of an action or entrance into a state, to the realm of God’s blessing by coming to Him.

 

CONCLUSION

Wisdom is safety, security and strength. Amen.

 

[1] Charles Swindoll, Living on the Ragged Edge – Finding Joy in a World Gone Mad, W Publishing Group, 1985, 188.