Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Solomon gave an account of his experiences in striving after the things of this world to find happiness and satisfaction in life. While Solomon lived a successful life in the eyes of the world, all was not well with his soul. He realised that all his earthly accomplishments and enjoyments were “vanity and vexation of the spirit.”

In Ecclesiastes 2:12-17, Solomon recounted his experience on the matters of wisdom, madness, and folly. He came to hate life and despaired in all that he laboured for (Eccl 2:17). The meditation of these six verses will help us to not strive for earthly wisdom for personal benefit and satisfaction but seek wisdom from above for the blessing of others and the glory of God.

Wisdom excels Folly? (Eccl 2:12-13)

¹²And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. ¹³Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

In Ecclesiastes 1:17, Solomon evaluated wisdom, madness, and folly. He experienced all three of them as king! He realized that as king, this was the epitome of what a man can hope to fully experience in life. As a king with absolute power, he had everything to satisfy his lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Solomon admitted that he tasted them all to its fullest! There is nothing more for him to seek after and enjoy further. When it comes to wealth, there was no one richer. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines! Kings and queens travelled from distant lands to sit at his feet to pay him homage and listen to his wisdom!

He had examined all that man can pursue in the matters of wisdom, madness, and folly. He concluded that wisdom exceeds folly as light exceeds darkness. Clearly, living in wisdom is superior to living foolishly, even in this temporal world. Through earthly wisdom Solomon enjoyed the best things in life. He lived in luxury whereas the foolish lived in poverty. He experienced the praises of man whereas the foolish were despised and ostracised. Just as light provides man with the ability to see and enjoy his surroundings and get things done, he was kept safe when he walked in the light and avoided all the holes in the streets. But darkness brings much discomfort so people light their lamps to get rid of darkness. Darkness brings out the criminals, under cover of which they can hide their evil deeds when they commit them. Darkness brings dangers.

Earthly wisdom is sought after by most people today to experience the life of comfort and luxury.  Solomon asked if this was all there was to life as he continued his evaluation.  

Both End in Death! (Eccl 2:14-15)

¹⁴The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness:and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. ¹⁵Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

The wise man sees as he walks whereas the fool walks without seeing. The latter walks in darkness. The former knows where he is heading. His life is planned and he gets what he wants in life with all his planning. He lives in comfort and luxury by his life of diligence and hard labour. The latter lives an aimless life of slothfulness. He muddles his way through and ends up with next to nothing! He lives in poverty with nothing to his worthless name.

But when Solomon perceived, i.e. examined both manner of life he concluded that one event, referring to death (Eccl 2:16b), happens to both the wise man and the fool. He then said to himself: “As death happens to the fool so it happens to me, so what is the point of me being wiser than others? I conclude that this also is vanity”. At death all wisdom ends. All that one has gained are separated from him at death. He ends up with nothing like the fool. The difference is that the fool ends up with nothing before death, whereas he ends up with nothing after death. But both end in death!

Solomon did not end his evaluation here! He continued.

Both are Forgotten! (Eccl 2:16-17)

¹⁶For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. ¹⁷Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:11 already reminded us how fleeting is the remembrance of things done in every generation. In Eccl 2:16 the reference is to people. There is often no remembrance of the wise more than the fool. There had been many wise men and women of great learning in the past. They invented great things to enrich the lives of others, e.g. Thomas Edison who gave us the electric light bulb.  How many of us remembered him and thanked him every time we switched on our lights? How is he different from the millions of ordinary folks who lived and died and are completely forgotten like the wise men of old?

The wise and the foolish all end up in death and soon are completely forgotten. There is no difference between the two in the larger scheme of things. These wise men may shine for the moment in their lifetime and in their generation were very well recognised and gained much fame and fortune. But they died like everyone else! When every man’s present life is viewed from this perspective, the tragic conclusion is “Therefore I hated life.” This means that every motivation behind every work is worthless. This tragic perspective evokes a deep sense of despair and makes every labour on earth grievous because it is all vanity.

This was Solomon’s experience when he strayed from the LORD and lived a life without Christ.

Application

The pursuit of human wisdom and prideful endeavours is “vanity and vexation of the spirit.” Parents push their children toward education heights as if this is the wisdom that will bring them success in life; as if when they are highly educated they will live the good life; as if fame and fortune are all that matters! This is vanity! All end in death! And where will you (or your children) go when you (or your children) die?

Anything done “under the sun” in worldly wisdom is futile and worthless. Listen closely to the wise evaluations of King Solomon.  Learn from his mistakes. It is less painful. Mark 8:34-37 “³⁴And when he [Jesus] had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. ³⁶For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ³⁷Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

May God bless us with godly wisdom from above to avoid the foolish wisdom from below. AMEN.