The "Bag" of Science & Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
Turn to and read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. Pray.
Last week we saw Solomon’s problem: Every “bag” he looked in was empty.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
We saw that Solomon’s problem was a problem of perspective: His entire perspective was under the sun.
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Solomon pursued satisfaction and enjoyment down every possible avenue that was available to him. The book of Ecclesiastes is a record of Solomon’s pursuits.
Those "bags” (as we called last week) included:
Science
Wisdom and philosophy
Pleasure
Materialism
Fatalism
Egoism
Religion
Wealth
Morality
The “Bag” of Science
The “Bag” of Science
In Ecclesiastes 1:4-11, Solomon looked in the “bag” of science. Turn to and read Ecclesiastes 1:5-7.
What is science?
Webster defines science as...
the comprehension or understanding of truth or facts by the mind
How did Solomon come to comprehend or understanding the facts that are given in Ecclesiastes 1:5-7? He did so by observing. he observed all that was around him.
But to what purpose? We have to remind ourselves: “What was Solomon searching for?” He was searching for purpose; for satisfaction; for meaning in life.
There has always been a segment of society that has believed that science to can solve anything!
Can science solve all of our problems?
Quotes from Bill Nye, the Science Guy:
“When we explore the cosmos, we come to believe and prove that we can solve problems that have never been solved. It brings out the best in us. Space exploration imbues everyone with an optimistic view of the future.”
“Science is the key to our future, and if you don't believe in science, then you're holding everybody back.”
Has much good come from science?
I believe that we can all agree that much good has come from science. I once heard someone say,
Curiosity killed the cat. Yes, but it also cured polio!
What are some good things that have come from science?
I’ll be the first one to admit that I have benefited, many times over from scientific discoveries and applications. However, science cannot, will not, solve all of our problems or answers all of our questions. In fact, the more we learn through the observation of the natural world around us, the more we realize that we don’t know. In other words, every question that science is able to answer only leads to two more questions that we don’t have the answer to.
Quotes from Dr. Christopher Baird, Assistant Professor of Physics at West Texas A&M University:
Science can not solve all of our problems. While scientific understanding can help battle things like disease, hunger, and poverty when applied properly, it does not do so completely and automatically.
…Many areas of life are simply too non-physical to be satisfactorily addressed by science. Love, hate, relationships, poetry, art, music, literature, and spirituality are all outside the realm of science. Any problems that arise in these areas cannot be completely solved by science.
https://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2013/09/25/how-can-science-solve-all-of-our-problems/
Isaac Newton is well known as one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. What is not so well known is his deep belief in God and his conviction that scientific investigation leads to a greater knowledge of God the Creator of the universe.
Quotes from Sir Isaac Newton:
I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people.
Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.
There are some who would love to divorce God from science and science from God (much in the way that Solomon sought to do by answering the questions of life solely with science). However, that is not possible.
God created science!
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Even though Solomon tried, you cannot take God “out of the equation!”
The “Bag” of Wisdom & Philosophy
The “Bag” of Wisdom & Philosophy
As we come to vs. 12, Solomon here records for us the fact that all of his “discoveries” were done when he was still king over Israel.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
What allowed Solomon the ability to pursue/look for satisfaction, enjoyment, and meaning wherever he wanted?
It was the fact that he was king. Because of his wealth and position, nothing was unaccessible to him.
While I really don’t have time to elaborate on this, we live in a society very much like that. Because of our prosperity and advances in technology, there really seems to be no limit to what we can explore and how we can explore. While we may not realize it, we have more disposable income, more free time, more knowledge, more opportunities than at any other time in history.
The key point to be made is those “things” are not the problem. It is how we choose to use them. I’m reminded of 1 Timothy 6:17:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Solomon had gotten away from trusting “in the living God” as he used his wealth and position to pursue happiness and satisfaction in this life. That’s why he was not able to find it. He left God out of the picture much like we are tempted to do in our prosperous society.
Now, back to Ecclesiastes and the “bag” of wisdom and philosophy.
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
“And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom...” Could Solomon find satisfaction/fulfillment in wisdom and philosophy? I think we all know the answer to that question. No.
What is Wisdom?
The dictionary defines wisdom as:
the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment
Turn to and read Proverbs 4:5-7.
A definition that I often give for wisdom is:
The accumulation (knowledge), assimilation (understanding), and application (wisdom) of Biblical truth.
Solomon forgot what he had written in Proverbs 2:6:
For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Solomon sought to understand the issues of life through the prism of his own wisdom and understanding. He, like modern man, sought to solve the problems of life without the God of life.
How do we know that that is what Solomon sought to do? Take a moment and read, to yourself, Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.
Where’s Solomon’s focus?
He refers to the great wealth and wisdom given to him by God without mentioning God.
Vs. 12 - “I” the Preacher
Vs. 13 - “I” gave “my” heart
Vs. 14 - “I” have seen
Vs. 16 - “I” communed with “mine own” heart
Vs. 16 - “I” am come to great estate
Vs. 16 - “my” heart had great experience
Vs. 17 - “I” gave “my” heart
Vs. 17 - “I” perceived
Solomon had “worldly” wisdom. That’s dangerous!
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
No wonder Solomon came to the conclusion he did in vs. 18:
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Once again, Solomon’s focus was all wrong. As one preacher said, “Though [Solomon] knew God, he ignored [God].” We had better not make the same mistake!
There are a couple of more things that I want to draw your attention to from this passage of Scripture but we’re going to have to wait until next week.
In the mean time, I would encourage you to read through, once again, Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.
Are there any dangerous words in that passage of Scripture?