There’s Wisdom and There’s Godly Wisdom
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. (Ecclesiastes 1:17, ESV)
For Insight
My husband and I used to love going to the park and the mall. Not to shop but to people watch. You can tell so much about people just by studying them in their natural setting. So often we would burst out in laughter watching mommies and their children in the park or find it interesting watching teens roam up and down the mall, not clothes shopping but trying to attract the opposite sex, couples out shopping together, or people doing just what we were doing: observing others. It was not only cheap entertainment it gave my husband sermon material.
Solomon applied his heart to do a people-study. He was studying the ways of people who were prudent. Those who thought carefully about the future, managed their life with integrity, handled blessings from God wisely. People who used their common sense as well as godly wisdom, those who weighed matters pragmatically and carefully thought things out and planned. He was also observing those who were foolish and noted how they were self-aggrandizing, narcissistic, full of self importance and puffed up with worldly power. Those who used their own wealth, and relied on their reputation to accomplish things they had set their mind to. Solomon said trying to figure people out was like chasing the wind.
Solomon determined that kind of wisdom also came with a price. His heart ended up heavy and tormented. He found himself annoyed by foolish people, perplexed why anyone would rely upon their own wisdom and power instead of Gods. The ways of the ungodly and self-reliant annoyed him. Instead of being enlightened and feeling better, the sorrows of Solomon’s heart increased. He began to feel that that kind of wisdom was nothing but vanity and led to nothing good or profitable.
Though we have a natural curiosity, figuring people out is no more our task than trying to figure out the ways of God. Both are a mystery to us and neither can be understood by simple human reasoning or deduction. God gives us release from figuring out things beyond us. When we leave people up to him and learn to trust in Him, we will enjoy peace and rest. Our hearts will not be tormented, sorrowed, or perplexed. Our mind can no more fathom God’s wisdom nor what makes people think or do what they do.
Praying Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
God, there is so much we could burden ourselves with: figuring out people is one of those. May we leave people up to You: both the foolish and the wise and may we trust in You more and more so we can be at rest and filled with peace. Amen
Challenge
Who are you trying to figure out? Release yourself from the task of figuring out why humans do what they do or the ways of God.
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 