Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

WISDOM BETTER THAN FOLLY - "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege-works against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good" (Ecclesiastes 9:11-18).

There are no guarantees in life! No matter how hard we try to shape the trajectory of our future by the decisions we make in the present, the fact remains that our knowledge is limited.

We cannot predict our final hour, the manner in which we will pass from this life, nor the reasons behind God's decision to end our days here on earth. What we can determine though is how spiritually prepared we will be when that moment arrives.

Solomon previously emphasized, "All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return" (Ecclesiastes 3:20), to remind us that we are mortal. Therefore, it is imperative we make the most of the time we have been given to ensure that when our day of reckoning comes, we will be prepared to meet our Maker.

For none of us who profess saving faith in Jesus Christ desire to stand before God on judgment day overcome with guilt and shame for the sinful choices we have made. We would rather proclaim to our Creator in humble confidence, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

This mindset does not presume we won't have regrets over poor decisions or how we failed to maximize every moment in our possession. It simply means we will not be held captive by our past, for we recognize that our salvation has been made secure by Christ and our identity as God's chosen people sealed for eternity.

Understanding what it means to be "saved" is of utmost importance when considering Solomon's words because our identity is found in Christ. No doubt, many of us have experienced firsthand the harsh realities of prejudice, injustice and unfair balances in our lifetime.

Perhaps our gifts or talents have not been recognized or valued by others but persecuted and ridiculed by those who are threatened by or jealous of what God has freely bestowed on us.

As Christians, we identify with the words of King David who proclaimed, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:14).

Again, this perspective reminds us as Christians that our identity is linked with Christ when we surrender our personal will and relinquish ultimate control for God to use us as He wills. We trade worldly uncertainty for God's sovereignty and accept the fate which He chooses for our lives because we trust His ways are greater than our own.

Of course, this does not assume we deserve to prosper in any area of life. At times, God chooses to take away any advantage we may have just as Solomon alludes to regarding the swift, the strong, the wise or the intelligent. In those instances, we must accept His sovereignty for better or worse because we know as God's people that all things come to fruition in His way and His time for His purposes and His glory.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

However, another truth remains regarding the swift, strong, wise and intelligent that we cannot gloss over if we desire to understand Solomon's perspective in this passage: Humility.

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). 

We assume that the fastest, strongest and smartest will excel in life (and most often they do), but there are also instances when people with far less surpass those with tremendous capabilities, aptitude and resources. Solomon provides one such example. Despite overwhelming strength, a great king could not besiege a small city protected by a few men with a poor, wise leader at the helm.

Strength and power were not enough to succeed against meager opposition because humility was lacking in the king who was supposed to excel and succeed. This truth forces us to reevaluate our perspective regarding how we personally think and act, for how often do we encounter situations and pull out wisdom as our tool of choice rather than speed, strength or knowledge?

Perhaps it is because wisdom requires humility to set aside pride and seek the Lord as the source of wisdom rather than ourselves. For as James reminds us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). 

When we relinquish selfish control and allow the Lord to equip us with wisdom rather than any other quality we think we need to succeed, we begin to understand why Scripture declares, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her" (Proverbs 3:13-15).

Wisdom does not need a megaphone to amplify its importance. Its value and significance are perfected in those who quietly apply it rather than pridefully shout to others that they possess it.

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

The proof is in application, which again forces us to reevaluate our lives and calibrate our decision-making to ensure they are consistent with God's Word. Surface Christianity is simply not sufficient. Our actions must provide testimony to our identity in Christ which begins with Biblical application and testifies to an attainment of wisdom that elicits such behavior.

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).

Bottom-line, no matter if we are blessed with plenty or challenged with little, our perspective must be that God's sovereignty reigns supreme in whatever lot he provides us. For above all, the most important gift we are given is His grace that supersedes any limitations, struggles or trials we endure in our lives.

Even more, we are exhorted by the example of the apostle Paul that temptations abound when spiritual warfare increases. Paul suffered greatly for the advancement of the Gospel, but his wise counsel still ministers to us more than ever as we face our own personal smorgasbord of sinful opportunities the world tempts us with.

Therefore, it is imperative we remember Paul's personal testimony to encourage us when the wisdom road seems too narrow for us to walk and sinful, alternative routes tempt us to destroy the good work Christ has done in our hearts.

"But the Lord said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).