Widsom and Unpredictability
Ecclesiastes: The Search For Meaning • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:19
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Wisdom and Unpredictability
Wisdom and Unpredictability
Intro
Throughout our studies in Ecc. we have taken a look at God’s desire for his creation to live wisely.
How God has created this world with certain rules and how it is better if we live within those rules.
God is dedicated to helping his people.
Those who are devoted to him live a life pursuing wisdom.
He has given us scriptures to advise us on how to live wisely.
Two of the books in Scripture that speak specifically about wisdom are Proverbs and Ecc.
However, they approach wisdom in a slightly different way.
Proverbs focuses on what is generally true when it comes to living wisely.
Ecc. focuses on the exceptions to living wisely.
The perplexing situations that don’t always work out the way we hoped or thought they would.
I saw on YouTube some theologians describe the difference in proverbs and Ecc. in this way.
Proverbs is a young, hopeful, and insightful teacher.
She is full of life, hope, and intelligence.
Proverbs is optimistic about life and living wisely.
While Ecc. is like the old grizzled professor.
He’s a critic and a cynic.
He has lost most of his hopeful vigor as the world around him has worn him down.
He is more pessimistic while at the same time balancing out his pessimism with sprinkles of hope and optimism.
We have seen this play itself out in our study of Ecc., and it will continue today.
But before we start, lets pray and ask for the Lord’s guidance as we study his word.
11 Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them.
Unpredictable Life
Unpredictable Life
Solomon begins here by showing us that life is unpredictable.
Life is uncertain.
Even in the most certain of situations, things don’t always go the way we would hope for them to.
He highlights the exceptions to the rules here.
The fast should win the race, the strong should win the battles, the skilled should have favor but this isn’t always true.
The reality of the world is that things don’t always work out the way we would expect them to.
We even have stories and examples from our life and from observations in the world around us.
When it comes to the quick always winning the race we all know the story of the tortoise and the hare.
Where the unexpected outcome is that the tortoise beats the hare in a footrace.
There are reasons and morals in that story that help us to see why this occurs, but we know that regardless of the hares actions, everyone expected the tortoise to lose.
The strong losing the battle is demonstrated in one of the most popular stories in the Bible.
The story of David and Goliath.
By all accounts looking at Goliath there is no way that he could lose that Fight.
But he did lose. David over came.
Now when we see this play out in our lives we can feel the injustice of it.
Someone not as qualified gets the promotion at work.
The underdog in a sporting event wins.
The smart don’t always end up with a fortune or even make a decent living.
The good die young, while the wicked live forever it seems.
Ordinarily we would look out at the world and believe that the biggest, best, and smartest will always be on top, but the reality is this doesn’t always hold true.
Human ability is no guarantee of success in life.
We simply don’t know who is going to end up at the top.
We don’t know who is going to benefit from their talents and abilities.
And if we’re honest, then we are frustrated by this reality.
It can lead us to a place that causes us to feel like why should I even try if I can’t predict or know the outcome of my actions.
But that’s not a good way to live life.
That’s not the Godly way to live life.
So why is this the case. Why don’t the fast win, the smart prosper, the strong overcome in all situations.
And what does Solomon attribute this all to?
“Time and Chance”
He looks out at the world and sees that humans are subject to the whims of life.
That there seems to be some sort of randomness that causes us to either succeed or fail.
It’s out of our control.
But here’s what I want us to see about Solomon’s out look.
He’s limited in how he understands what’s going on in the world.
Did you catch what he said at the beginning of the verse?
“Again I saw under the sun”
Solomon is looking at the world around him and seeing that things aren’t going as he would expect so it must be time and chance that causes such things.
But that’s such a temporary and temporal view.
If we limit ourselves to simply what is going on under the sun, then sure it appears as time and chance.
But we don’t believe in time and chance, we believe in God’s providence and sovereignty.
We are not afflicted by chance, but through the infallible providence of God.
John Calvin
This is what we rest in when things aren’t going as we would expect them to.
We rest in God’s oversight of the universe.
And not just of the universe, but of our individual life.
Eph 1:11 “11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,”
For those of us who are are in Christ.
Meaning we are a part of his family. We have given our life in submission to him, then we should believe and know that God is working everything out for his plans and for his purposes.
We don’t know all that God is doing, but we can know and do know the character of God.
We know that he is establishing his glory.
He is working things out for his plans and his purposes.
It can be discouraging when things don’t work out the way that we hope they would.
The way that we expected them to.
But we have to trust that it’s not random.
That it isn’t chance.
That it is perfectly within the will of God.
That he is working things out.
We have to have a wider view for how we look at the circumstances and the world around us.
We have to have a God sized view and not one limited to under the sun.
What God is doing in the world and in our lives isn’t random.
It isn’t chance.
It isn’t outside of his control and providence.
What God does in his world and in our lives is purposeful.
Things in our life may be unpredictable, but our God isn’t.
He knows exactly what he is doing and why he is doing it.
So we should trust him.
As unpredictable as life can be.
There is one saying that is going to capture Solomon’s next topic.
“There are only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes.”
and shocker, Solomon isn’t going to talk about taxes.
12 For certainly no one knows his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.
Death is Inevitable
Death is Inevitable
Though death is inevitable, we don’t all know the timing of our death.
We don’t know when we will breath our last breath.
We don’t know when is the last time we get to kiss our loved ones.
We simply can’t know.
I’ve known people who have been given months to live, but God has given them years.
I have also known people who were in the prime of their life and died suddenly.
We simply don’t know.
And this is like we talked about last week one of the limitations that we as created beings have.
We are all going to die.
Death is inevitable and it is unpredictable.
Now I want us to notice that Solomon calls this an evil time.
Death is not a good thing.
We as God’s good creation were created to live forever in communion with him.
But we are all caught up in the trap of living and then dying.
So since we are all going to die.
And none of us know when that time will come.
The natural question to ask is: Are you ready to die?
If we believe what the bible teaches, and we do, then we know that when we die we will stand before God and he will judge us.
He will either judge us according to our own works.
Our own ability to keep his law perfectly.
Our own good deeds and good works which isn’t as good as we might think.
We aren’t a good as we would like to believe.
God’s standard for obedience is perfection.
And each one of us has fallen short of that standard.
So if God judges us based on our works we fail.
But there is another way.
The other way is a better way.
The other way that God will judge us is based not on what I have done or haven’t done.
The way that God will judge us is based on what Jesus did.
If we repent of our sins and follow after Jesus then we will be pardoned of our sin and we will inherit eternal life.
Based on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Based on Jesus’ obedience.
Based on how Jesus lived and not based on how I lived.
Jesus tells us in John 8:24 “24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.””
So if you die withing believing and trusting in Jesus then you will die in your sins.
And if you die in your sin you will be separated from God for all eternity.
Death will be final and you will never experience the presence of God or his goodness ever again.
But if you repent of your sin.
Turn from your wickedness and follow after Jesus then you will have fullness of life now and forevermore.
Listen to what Jesus in Revelation.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Jesus is the first and the last.
He is the beginning and the end.
We can have new life b/c he lives forever more.
Yes you have sinned.
Yes you have fallen short.
Yes you deserve death and separation from God.
But Jesus came so that you could have life.
He came so that he could provide you with restoration.
He came so he could bring reconciliation between God and man.
He died so you could live.
He rose again proving that he has the power of sin and death.
That he holds the keys to life.
Yes, we are all going to die.
Yes, none of us know when it is going to happen.
No, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.
And even though death is inevitable and unpredictable, we can know and have eternal life.
We can have life more abundant.
We can have a future where we live in the presence of God for all eternity.
That’s what Jesus offers us.
Restoration, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
Every moment you are alive is a mercy of God.
Every breath that you breath is a mercy of God.
If you haven’t given your life to him, he is calling for you to call on him.
To believe him so that you can have eternal life.
This is the good, right, and wise thing to do if you want to have a life of meaning.
A life of purpose.
A life of fellowship with God.
Hell is filled with people who say I belong in heaven based on my good deeds, my heart, and my good intentions.
Heaven is filled with people who would say I know I deserve hell based on my bad deeds and wicked heart... but I am here based on Jesus’s good deeds and his death on the cross on my behalf.
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And as we’ve journeyed through Ecc, one of the things that has been apparent is that we should pursue wisdom.
The wisest thing that we can do is give our lives to Jesus.
Submit to him.
Follow him.
Obey him and live life the way that he designed.
Now, that doesn’t mean that life is going to be more predictable.
Following Jesus isn’t going to change the reality of the world we live in, but it will change the perspective with which we view the world.
We will be confident in the providence and sovereignty of God.
And following after him will cause us to live redemptively and live wisely.
Wisdom in how to live our lives is a good and important way to live.
And Solomon is going to show us that in the next several verses.
Wisdom is good even if it doesn’t solve all the problems of the world.
Wisdom is good b/c it is from God.
But just like the strongest doesn’t always win the battle
And the quickest doesn’t always win the race.
Wisdom isn’t always recognized for the power and effectiveness that it offers.
This is going to be played out in a story that Solomon tells us in v. 13-16.
13 I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me:
14 There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it.
15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
Wisdom Demonstrated
Wisdom Demonstrated
So calling back to the fact that the strong don’t always win, here Solomon shows us that wisdom can provide an advantage in a hard situation.
The story Solomon tells us is one about a small city that is being attacked by a strong king.
The king has all the advantage.
He has strong seige works. Possibly Battering rams, catapults, anything that could give the advantage in seige warfare.
He surrounds the city, and starts attacking it.
Then a man from the town.
A man of no consequence.
A poor man, has the wisdom to deliver the city from the onslaught that it faced.
We don’t know how this man was able to over com except that it was by wisdom.
When all the cards were stacked against this city, wisdom won out.
One of the things that Solomon wants us to see here is that we shouldn’t have a fatalistic view on the outcomes of the world.
We shouldn’t give into our desires to believe that all is fate and chance.
Even in the unpredictability of life, living wisely is better than living foolishly.
Wisdom has a place.
It has a purpose.
It is strong, powerful, and effective.
The man that helped to deliver the city is described by Solomon as poor.
Meaning that in the eyes of the city he would have been insignificant.
And that he didn’t use his resources, financial or otherwise, to influence the outcome of the battle.
Instead he relied on his knowledge and wisdom to overcome the difficult situation.
This poor man’s wisdom is contrasted with the great king and all his power and resources.
Demonstrating that wisdom is far more valuable and powerful than money and resources.
Wisdom, living a wise life, is always better than relying on the things of this world to get us ahead.
Living wisely, as we’ve talked about the last couple of weeks, allows us to see and make sense of the world.
Helps us to know and see the goodness and the wickedness all around us.
Allows us to have an advantage in a world that is slowly dieing.
But the problem is that wisdom is not always acknowledge.
That wisdom isn’t always propped up as something to grasp or as something that deserves honor.
We see this in the life of this poor man who saved his city.
Solomon laments the poor man’s lot in life.
The poor wise man saved the city b/c of his wisdom… “ye no one remembered that poor man.”
Wisdom is not always heeded.
Wisdom is not always propped up.
Wisdom is not always rewarded.
But that doesn’t mean that we should avoid wisdom.
That doesn’t mean that we should abandon wisdom.
If it wasn’t for this man’s wisdom his city would have been taken over.
His life and the life of the city citizens would have been either taken from them or they would have been enslaved.
This man was forgotten.
He was despised.
He simply faded into the background of his country men.
But does that mean that what he did, using his wisdom to save the people, was in vain?
That his life was in vain?
Was his use of wisdom overshadowed by those forgetting about him?
Again, no. B/c living wisely is always better than living foolishly.
So when we look at the account of this man’s life, we have to ask ourselves what’s the goal when living wisely?
What’s the point in living wisely or using wisdom if we are going to be forgotten?
That’s an honest question to ask, but I’m going to disappoint you a little with the answer.
We don’t use wisdom to get ahead.
We use wisdom b/c it is good and right.
Part of living wisely is knowing that not everyone is going to accept your advise.
They will not heed your instruction.
They will ask for direction, but not take it.
When using the wisdom that God provides for us we don’t need to seek recognition.
We don’t need to get a pat on the back.
Or applause from man.
We should use wisdom and live wisely simply b/c it is the right thing to do.
B/c living wisely and using the wisdom that comes from God is good and right.
It honors God.
It honors our neighbor.
It pleases the Father when his children live wisely.
But why?
Solomon answers this question in the next few verses.
16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
17 The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.
Wisdom is Better
Wisdom is Better
Why should God’s children live wisely?
B/c wisdom is better.
Better than strength.
Better than weapons of war.
Better than gold.
Better than riches.
Better than silver.
Better than living foolishly.
And here in these last three verses we are going to look at, Solomon wants to really get that point across.
Wisdom is beneficial for our lives.
Wise words are better than shouts and loud words.
I know that it frustrates me when I see or hear an argument between two people.
One person is calmly and rationally explaining their point, but the person sitting across from them is Screaming and yelling.
I used to argue with my brother a lot.
And as we would argue he would get louder and louder.
I would tell him often, being louder does not make you right.
And here Solomon is attributing the loud mouths to that of a ruler.
or a leader.
Just b/c you are loud and have influence doesn’t make you right.
In fact, the loudest voice is usually the least wise.
Shouting someone down is not the way to portray wisdom.
We can see this in our homes and in our relationships.
Often the husband or father can be loud and demeaning, thinking that simply b/c he’s the man of the house he has to be right.
But that’s not the wisest way to use our authority or power in our homes.
In fact, men when we behave like this we are driving a wedge between ourselves and our wife and kids.
It’s not the loud voice that changes the heart and attitudes, its the words spoken with wisdom.
And how do we find wisdom, but pursuing Jesus.
By chasing after holiness.
By submitting to his authority.
Remember, Jesus was the wisest man to ever live.
In fact, the Biblical texts points to Jesus, the second person of the trinity, as being the source and spring from which wisdom flows.
So if we want to live wise lives, which we should, b/c living opposite of wisdom is foolish living.
Then we must submit and follow Jesus.
Solomon also shows us here Ecc 9:18 “18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.”
Wisdom is great and powerful, but sin and foolishness can and does bring destruction too.
Sin destroys lives.
Sin destroys relationships.
Sin destroys trust.
Sin destroys wisdom.
But the good news is Jesus conquered sin.
Jesus provides wisdom for his people.
Jesus wants us to live wise lives.
Knowing that things don’t always happen the way we want them to.
Knowing that death is a reality and we never know when it’s going to happen.
Knowing that living wisely doesn’t mean you are going to be the most popular person.
You may not be recognized for your wisdom.
But living a wise life is beneficial to you and your relationship with God and with the world around you.
So how do we live wisely knowing that life is unpredictable.
First, wisdom begins knowing Jesus.
The first step to living a wise life is to turn from your sin and turn toward Jesus.
To submit to him.
Second, wisdom with being thankful.
Being thankful forces us to recognize that everything we have, everything is a gift from God.
And being thankful isn’t a one and done mindset, it is a daily celebration of God’s goodness in our lives.
Third, tied with being thankful is being prayerful.
Being prayerful, helps to reorient us toward the Lord.
It helps to remind us whose in charge, Helps us to get through the unpredictability of life and rely on the king who’s in charge.
Phil 4.6 “6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Prayer does something amazing in that it changes our hearts and forms our desires and will to God’s desire and will.
Prayer also teaches us humility and reliance on God as king of all.
Wisdom will also lead to us being generous.
In difficult times, it’s easy to hold onto our resources.
When inflation is real, we can hold on tighter to our check books.
But the one seeking wisdom will trust in the Lord to provide for them.
Not being reckless with their finances, but being generous with the gifts given by God.
Wisdom also will force us to be faithful.
B/c the world is unpredictable we must be faithful toward the one who is faithful toward us.
We need to trust in God in times of need and in times of difficulty.
Living wisely will also force us to be hopeful.
It’s wise to trust him and in trusting him we will be hopeful that he is finishing what he started.
Despite all our best efforts we can’t determine the outcomes of life, but we know the God who does and can.
We may not know our time or how circumstances will work out, but we do know Jesus, and that he who started a good work in us will bring it to completion.
So we should live wisely in light of who God is and how he has designed life for us.
Though the world is unpredictable.
Though death is coming for all of us.
We have a God is alive and well.
Who is stable and predictable.
Who we can have absolute hope in.
Especially in times of trouble.