Blog
“The Wise Man vs. the Fool (Ecclesiastes 10)”
Categories: Christian life, Ecclesiastes, fool, wisdom, workSolomon paints us pictures of the wise man and the foolish man in the 10th chapter of Ecclesiastes. As we take trip after trip around the sun, we can start to wonder what we are supposed to be doing and if we are doing it right. Solomon nods along beside us. He, too, has wrestled with all those thoughts, and God granted him wisdom to understand man’s place and purpose under the sun. God grants man wisdom so we can walk rightly, honorably, justly in this world, thus gaining the precious rewards of healthy consciences, happy lives, and inner peace.
According to Ecclesiastes 10…
The wise man takes care in his life, takes care of his tools, works hard despite less-than-optimal conditions, uses his words skillfully, does not curse rulers but controls himself, feasts at the proper times, and brings home the bacon to his thriving, healthy family. His words give grace and return to him with favor. He can calmly sit while his master rails at him because he knows his place, knows he is in the right, and knows that to rise against the ruler would be shameful and foolhardy. His steps are established by the Lord in wisdom. “Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” (10.17).
The fool demonstrates his lack of sense through laziness, silly speech, incompetence, and lack of moral judgment. He spouts unhelpful words. He makes excuses and does not work. “It might rain,” he says, and stays inside to play video games instead of doing what needs to be done today. With a super-inflated ego, he “educates” others and believes that wisdom resides with him, but everyone around him realizes he doesn’t even know what road he’s on and he certainly can’t guide others! “The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness” (10.13).
This is not just dealing with social issues or things that are “worse vs. better.” Solomon speaks here of morality, of the way a man orders his steps before the Lord, of righteous living vs. wicked living.
Paul’s Similar Admonitions
Paul similarly commented on wise living in Ephesians 5.6–21. Some will attempt to deceive Christians with empty words, but Paul wants us to carefully discern and not become partners with those “sons of disobedience” who are “darkness” (5.6–8). Those fools will perish in their folly. Paul charges us to “walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (10.8–10). Paul continues:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Sprit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (5.15–21)
Walk in the wisdom of the Lord! His paths are straight and level, our foot will not slip, our lives will be established come what may. What confidence, what joy, and what peace you will find!
