Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

In Eecclesiastes 7:11-14, we looked at the excellency and value of wisdom. Wisdom and inheritance (wealth) are good in that both are our protection and defence, but wisdom is more excellent than wealth in that it comes from heaven above and gives life eternal in Christ. Wisdom teaches us to accept and submit to the immutable will and providence of God, knowing that what God has ordained is unalterable. God allows prosperity and adversity in our lives to teach us to depend on Him completely always.

We shall now focus on Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 to learn more about the excellency and value of wisdom.

Wisdom to see God’s will and providence (Eccl 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.”

Solomon shared the experiences he had acquired throughout his life, which he described as vanity, i.e. meaningless and futile, because he lived a carnal life. He singled out a controversial occurrence from man’s perspective: a just man perishes in his righteousness and a wicked man prolongs his life in his wickedness. Examples in the Bible: Abel, the righteous man, died young; Cain, the wicked man, lived much longer (Gen 4); Ahab killed Naboth, the righteous and obedient man through Jezebel’s wicked plot; Ahab and Jezebel, the wicked king and queen, continued living (1 Ki 21:1-13). 

Do these occurrences contradict man’s expectation that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked? The answer is a definite no. God is almighty, sovereign, loving and just. Wisdom will teach us that all these happened under a sovereign and just God who is the final judge of all men. God’s Word tells us that if a righteous man perishes, “he shall enter into peace” (Isa 57:1-2). If the wicked prolongs his days, continuing in sins, he will die in his sins fitted for destruction (Rom 9:22). There is therefore no reason to be stumbled either at the calamities and short life of the righteous man, or at the long life of the wicked man. We may naturally struggle and sometimes question God for “unjust” occurrences like this. Yet our God-given wisdom should remind us that God is all knowing, works all things according to His will, and He will judge everyone’s life; and lead us to humbly admit that our knowledge is limited.  Supposing one lacks the wisdom to accept that God’s providence includes such unexplainable awful experiences and calamities that come upon the righteous (for example Job), in that case he might be perplexed. He might make erroneous unbiblical judgements concerning the character of troubled brethren, like the three friends of Job who falsely accused him of wickedness when awful calamities struck him hard.

Wisdom guards us from self-righteousness and being over-wise (Eccl 7:16)

“Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise:” – Solomon was not saying that because the righteous perish, therefore don’t be too righteous and too wise; neither was he saying that to sin in moderation or a little sin is acceptable. How can someone be over-righteous or over-wise?  The Bible teaches us to seek God’s righteousness and wisdom and live righteously and wisely. The Bible never contradicts itself. This admonition is not warning against true righteousness, but against religious conceit, self-righteousness, or ostentatiousness in one’s goodness. Neither is it a warning against true wisdom, but against pride in intellectual achievements, pretending to be wiser than others when one is not. Examples would be constant fasting without spiritual reasons, self-denial, scourging, penance, spiritual superiority, giving unsolicited worldly advice and the like. It refers to a show and ostentation of one’s righteousness and wisdom and goodness, being unreasonably demanding on self and others about moral or religious duties; one who lives by a set of self-imposed standards and strict rules and influences others to follow suit; one who is quick to criticise and pass harsh judgement. We should not rely on our own works to be righteous, for God imputed righteousness in us at the point of salvation. We should not make righteous living a means to avoid calamities or receive rewards from God. Righteousness is not equal to doing well in life materially. We obey God to live righteously to please Him.

“thou destroy thyself why shouldest?” – Wisdom tells us that being self-righteous or over-wise can destroy a person's health and life. Things like over fasting, living too rigidly, scourging and penance surely will hurt the body and cause health problems. Studing worldly subjects may make a person wise in the things of the world. But if not careful, deep and prolonged study and research on a single subject can make a person lose sense and reason and even become mentally sick.  

Wisdom guards us from wickedness and foolishness (Eccl 7:17)     

“Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish:”  Solomon is not saying that since righteous and wise living cannot guarantee a good life, therefore it is ok to be a bit wicked and foolish. Some observe that wicked men prolong their days in wickedness and even become prosperous and thus they are encouraged to do wicked things to get riches and wealth. Some may even think that nice and righteous Christians may lose out or people may take advantage of them, so let us be like the world. Christians should not be wicked at all. What Solomon means is: do not multiply wickedness and be a fool, do not add unto it and continue in it, or do not aggravate it to the point of no return.  

“why shouldest thou die before thy time?” - God has a pre-determined life span for each of us, “a time to be born, and a time to die;” (Eccl 3:2a). God certainly can shorten it according to His sovereign will. Why should we provoke God to destroy ourselves before our appointed time to die? Those who are wicked and foolish are more likely to have their lives shortened. People end up with premature death because of sexual and homosexuality sins (VD, AIDS), alcohol (liver illness), drugs (nerve and body degeneration), smoking (throat and/or lung cancer, heart disease), suicide due to despair, death sentence due to committing capital offences.

Wisdom comes from the fear of God (Eccl 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.”

The best antidote against “over much righteousness and wisdom” and “over much wickedness and foolishness” is the fear of God. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Prov 1:7 and 9:10) and keeps us away from evil (Prov 3:7). Wisdom is a gift of God bestowed upon His children to guide them in their decision-making throughout life. The fear of God will keep a man from all unwise and unbiblical thinking and practices. A man that fears God is humble, renounces his own righteousness, and distrusts his own wisdom. He fears God not to sin and shuns folly; he loves God and will do all that he ought to do, according to God’s Word. Christians should put the fear of God in their hearts, holding on to wisdom and righteousness, and never be a partaker of wickedness and foolishness. 

Conclusion

Whether one lives long or short, in prosperity or poverty, in health or sickness, are not an indication of God’s blessing or cursing, acceptance or rejection. God gives His children wisdom to know this, to guard and protect us from self-righteousness and over-wise, wickedness and folly. God’s Word coupled with the fear of God in our hearts will give us the knowledge and wisdom to live a godly, holy, and righteous life pleasing to Him throughout our sojourn on earth. AMEN.