Wisdom Recognizes What is Important
Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
From the earliest times, the name given to a child was supposed to indicate some characteristic of that child.
Today, we mostly set a nickname on them, and sometimes it sticks for life.
We should ask ourselves; do we have a good name?
The Lord Jesus says that we can get a new name: Rev_2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
We know we are all appointed to a day of death, which really means life to the Christian, but dying with a good name is far better than being born into prosperity.
Death is appointed to every person.
Death is a matter we all need to take seriously.
We know that after our salvation, the most important factor for being successful in this life is wisdom, but only that wisdom that comes by the "Fear of the Lord".
King Solomon was better known for his wisdom than he was his riches.
It is more important today to live wisely than it was in the day of Solomon.
The Holy Spirit has given us this collection of simple, practical sayings that we can live by.
We must live wisely day by day.
Every day we live is good or bad according to the choices we make that day!
*****Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
We already know that the most important decision we will make in this life is that decision to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in salvation.
So, we have to learn what matters in this life. The world will offer nothing but confusion!
We must learn to discern between the good and the bad; Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Precious ointment in the day of Solomon was so valuable that only the rich could afford it.
Average people could seldom afford to waste what little money they had on such things as perfume.
This ointment cost nearly a year's wages; Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
The Holy Spirit is teaching us that if we have to choose between a good name and a lifestyle of the rich and famous, it would be best for us to choose the good name.
Many of us will question whether the day of our death is more important than the day of our birth.
If we had not been born, how could we ever die that death? This is a promotion for the Christian.
If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been born as a human, how could He ever die for our sins?
To me, the difference is that the Lord Jesus had a miraculous birth, but we are all born in sin.
The time we have between the time of our birth and the time of our death is the time that we get to make the right choice about the Gospel.
For the Christian, the time of our death is a promotion to the glory world.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
I feel a whole lot like the Apostle Paul felt about this thing.
I do not want to stay one more day upon this earth than is necessary, but I know for some in my family it is better for me to stay here for as long as God will allow me.
The truth for the Christian is: 2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
For the unbeliever, these things are not true because they do not have the promise of eternal life; they live every day with the promise of eternal death.
*****Ecc 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
We should understand that the day of a person's death is better than a joyful feast is only true if Jesus Christ is not involved!
We who love Jesus Christ know that to depart this world is very much better.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Any reasonable person will admit that going to a festival is more enjoyable than a funeral.
No one gets excited about attending a funeral of a family member or a friend.
For me, death hits me right in the heart because in Vietnam, I saw death, and it is terrible, and I would rather not be around death because it brings back memories I would love to forget.
I accept this scripture because I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.
To those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, it is better to go to the house of mourning because death is something that every living soul needs to take seriously.
There is death coming to this body of flesh we live in!
Most of us will reflect on our own mortality at a funeral.
In many cases, God the Holy Spirit will go to work at funerals, and in their conscience and thoughts, they will begin to feel that there can be some kind of life after death.
We must take the time to think about what we can do to prepare for our death and help others to prepare for their death.
Ecc_12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Even if you do not believe in God, our Creator, you should wonder why we do not live longer in this great world of technology.
Heb_2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
It is a Holy God who holds the power of life and death in His hands.
God is not saying to avoid the right causes for celebrating because God gives much to celebrate.
If we wait till the day of our death, we will have missed out on God's promise of life.
*****Ecc 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Ecc 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
We can feel sorrow or sadness for many reasons!
Our emotions depend upon the cause of our distress.
We cannot wish that death would simply go away.
There will never be a life-giving serum that will overcome death.
This was God's purpose for sending His Son to death.
There is no life in pleasure because pleasure is short-term.
Sorrow brings benefits to life that pleasure cannot.
Sorrow causes us to release our emotions and draw closer to others.
The world looks at life on the animal plane, while the child of God looks at life on the Spiritual plane.
Life is not hopeless if we look through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Those who take the "leap of faith" into the truth of the Gospel will not be in despair because of hopelessness.
Solomon says life is in vain, while Jehovah says true life is in our future after this short life we live today.
We must allow sorrow to do its work in our lives while thinking about the sorrow that our Lord Jesus Christ endured both on and off the cross, then we can see the impact it had on His life, which is our life.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
It is a fool who rejects the truth of Jehovah God!
*****Ecc 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecc 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Ecc 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
None of us likes to be corrected.
None of us like to be scolded.
None of us like to be criticized.
People just prefer flattery and compliments.
The fool is blind to Spiritual things.
If we want to be serious about God's plan for our lives, we have to deal with wise people who will help us live our lives.
Those who have the "fear of the Lord" cannot take away all our grief or solve all our problems, but they can show how to deal with them.
A fool has nothing to offer to those with a broken heart!
A fire for cooking will not last very long if it is built out of thorns and has no effect on the cooking pot.
It is foolish to see if the pot is boiling.
Thorns do not even make the pot warm.
There is not enough fuel in those thorns to cook with.
It is a fool who thinks he will not see death at any time.
It is a fool who seeks only laughter but is blind to the essentials of life.
In reality, humans are poor judges of what is real and of lasting value unless we know the truth of the Gospel!
A gift intended as a bribe might cause us to act differently from our understanding of the truth if we allow it.
There are two ways to make a wise man mad.
1) By suffering oppression from other so-called wise men.
2) By being offered a bribe to oppress others.
This is the vanity of worldly wisdom that causes corruption and loss to those who cannot afford any loss.
*****Ecc 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
At the beginning of a matter, it is not clear how it will develop, but only at the end of a matter.
It can only be determined if it is useful information and important if we wait until the end to form our judgment.
It is the same in Spiritual matters as it is in practical living.
Sometimes our lives are like unfinished projects. They start good, but we run out of steam before we can finish them.
It is better to finish something we have started than to start something new in almost every case.
To the righteous man, we must realize that the important things in life are not quickly completed.
The things that really matter require commitment, determination, and discipline.
It is not always easy to live the Christian life!
Again, the Lord Jesus is our example: Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
We may not think of it, but it is a great thing to come to the end of our lives knowing that we have completed the thing that God had planned for us to accomplish.
We need patience to continue in the plan of God for our lives and see it to the end.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Life is too short, and our opportunities are limited for us to make a name that is good as our days come to an end.
God does not lead us to begin something that He will not give us time to finish!
*****Ecc 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
People who can hold their temper are wise for many reasons.
Pride is the reason for those who cannot and lack patience.
Many people get mad at God when something tragic happens in their lives or the life of a family member.
Many people get mad at God when it does not seem that God will answer their prayers.
These people will get mad at other people for these same reasons!
The Word of God stresses the importance of controlling our anger.
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
We can be eaten away with anger.
Any sin of the flesh can be conquered by following the Word of God.
1) We must know that a quick temper is a sin.
2) We must realize that we are wearing the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
3) We must listen to the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
4) We must die to ourselves, allowing Jesus Christ to live through us.
5) We must be prepared to battle the temptation to become angry by memorizing and recalling Scripture when it is needed.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
*****Ecc 7:10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
When we talk about the good old days, the Lord Jesus teaches us, we are not thinking right.
It is not profitable to live in the past!
When we think back, we tend to think of only happy days, and we forget that our past had its bad days, too.
The world is always changing, so expecting things to stay the same is unrealistic.
This world we live in is in constant deterioration, not progressing into a better world.
We are to focus on today and not tomorrow.
God will be just as faithful tomorrow as He is today.
Listen to the Apostle Paul:
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
*****Ecc 7:11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Ecc 7:12 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.
Ecc 7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecc 7:14 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.
Wisdom is a source of wealth and is precious, and is to be used wisely.
Wisdom is greatly desired.
Wisdom is one of the gifts we can get from God just by asking Him for it.
Wisdom is gained from those who have gone on before us.
If we receive an inheritance, it is something that was earned through the efforts of those who went before us.
It is the same with wisdom.
Wisdom is somewhat like money. It can be used wisely, or it can be thrown away.
Wisdom will retain its value unless we foolishly forsake it.
Jehovah God is the source of perfect wisdom, and He will share it with all His children.
There is no other knowledge that gives life like the knowledge of God the Father and God the Son, the Gospel.
No one can change anything God has done or what He says He will do!
The more we dispute God, the less we will understand!
We must remember one most important thing!
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Why would we want to change anything God has already done when He did those things for His children's betterment?
God brings prosperity and adversity to our lives, and He has His reasons.
When we are on the mountain, we need to enjoy it to the fullest because it will not be very long before we are in a valley.
Listen and learn from Job:
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
God's wisdom helps us accept that we cannot know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know what our ending will be.
Our faith must stay steady.
God is not committed to our short-term happiness.
God is committed to our salvation and our character after salvation!
We cannot go through this life wondering, "What if I had done things differently”?
It is our Heavenly Father who is in control of the years, the months, the days, the hours, the minutes, and the seconds of our lives.
We are to learn from the things we go through and be better because we went through them!
God knows what is best for us!
*****Ecc 7:15 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.
Ecc 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Ecc 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Ecc 7:18 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.
Many times we as Christians are miserable because we see wickedness prosper while Christians suffer.
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
It seems the ungodly prosper in this world and no one cares if they do it illegally.
It is only when we know the truth that we begin to understand.
Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psa 73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
I do not think we realize until we get old just how fragile these bodies we live in are.
We should be amazed that these bodies last into the seventy years that are mentioned in the Scriptures.
Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do the wicked prosper in their wicked lives?
When we look over the things in this world, we see that life is far different from what we expect.
God does not always reward the righteous, and God does not always punish the wicked.
Some people believe that only the good die young.
The truth is that there are no guarantees in life.
There is no formula for a long, prosperous, trouble-free existence.
The truth is it is a sin to elevate ourselves over others in our judgment!
We must never elevate ourselves to the place of God.
It is a sin to think we are wiser than God!
It is a sin to assume that living righteously places God under some obligation to us.
God will keep every promise He has made to us in His own time and in His own place of choosing.
We are not to become Pharisees and make salvation a works doctrine.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
We must never think we can commit a wicked deed and prosper as the wicked did when doing that same deed.
A life of excessive sin will most times lead to premature death.
We see this every day in the news.
Our world is becoming worse just as the Lord has said.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The only answer we need to the things we see is for us to continue our walk in the name of Jesus Christ.
We must walk daily in the "fear of the Lord".
As long as we are on this earth, we will have to learn to deal with the brutal reality that we live in a sinful and wicked world.
Our Heavenly Father is never unjust, and He never makes a mistake.
We should understand that death is our friend and not our enemy.
The Lord is always working out things for the good of us: Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What happens here on earth is not our final outcome!
There is ultimate condemnation coming to the wicked!
Psa 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psa 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
*****Ecc 7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
There is great strength that comes from the wisdom of the Lord!
It is by the wisdom of God that this world could conquer sin, if this world wanted to conquer sin.
We know that the world is too involved in sin to want sin eradicated.
We will face temptations all day in this world.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This world is the domain of the Devil.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Sin will rob us of our effectiveness in this world.
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
We must face sin and deal with it according to the Word of God.
Our penalty for sin has already been paid at Mount Calvary.
We know that God is always right.
God's wisdom warns us of the dangers that lie ahead of us until He takes us home.
Amen
