Category Archives: Wise

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Use Wisdom Before You Act (Ecclesiastes 10:8–15)

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Are you working harder to fix problems that wisdom could have helped you avoid in the first place?

Key Verse

“If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.” — Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NASB)

Background Context

In Ecclesiastes 9:11–18, Solomon reminded us that wisdom and diligent effort cannot guarantee the outcome we desire, because circumstances remain outside our control. Nevertheless, he concluded that wisdom is better than strength.

In Ecclesiastes 10:1–7, Solomon showed how even a relatively small amount of foolishness can damage something that took years of wisdom and honorable living to build.

Now in Ecclesiastes 10:8–15, Solomon gives several examples from ordinary life. Digging a pit, tearing down a wall, quarrying stones, splitting logs, swinging an axe, handling a snake, and even speaking all involve risks. Wisdom does not remove every danger, but it helps us recognize danger, prepare appropriately, and avoid creating unnecessary problems for ourselves.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 10:8-15

      8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 10:8–15:

Solomon begins with several activities that can unexpectedly hurt the person doing them. Someone digging a pit can fall into it. Someone breaking through a wall can be bitten by a snake hiding within it. Quarrying stones and splitting logs can also cause injury. Solomon is not teaching that these particular activities are wrong. His point is that even ordinary work contains risks that wise people learn to recognize.

Wisdom does not mean we can eliminate every danger from life. Ecclesiastes has already made clear that unexpected events happen even to wise and capable people. But there is a significant difference between circumstances we could not reasonably foresee and problems we create because we failed to think before acting.

The picture of the dull axe makes that especially clear. A person can continue swinging harder and harder with an axe that has lost its edge, but increased effort is not necessarily the best solution. Sometimes the wise response is to stop swinging and sharpen the axe.

That principle applies far beyond physical work. We can become so focused on getting something done that we never stop to ask whether there is a wiser way to do it. We may continue pouring more time, effort, or frustration into a problem when better preparation, additional knowledge, improved tools, or wise counsel could make the work much more effective.

Proverbs 21:5 reinforces this principle: “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to advantage, but everyone who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.” Diligence matters, but biblical diligence is not simply frantic activity. Wisdom considers how to proceed before investing enormous effort in the wrong approach.

Solomon then shifts from our actions to our words. “Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him.” Foolishness does not merely make work harder; it can also destroy us through what we say. Solomon describes the fool’s words beginning in foolishness and ending in “wicked madness.” The fool keeps talking even though he does not know what is coming.

James gives a similar warning about the tongue, comparing it to a small fire capable of setting a great forest ablaze (James 3:5–6). A few careless words can create consequences that require far more effort to repair than it would have taken to exercise restraint in the first place.

The section ends with an almost humorous picture: “The labor of a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.” The fool is exhausted, but exhaustion is not necessarily evidence of wisdom or productivity. A person can expend tremendous effort while accomplishing very little because he refuses to learn, prepare, listen, or change his approach.

There is an important balance here with what Solomon told us earlier: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). God calls us to work diligently, but diligence and wisdom belong together. Working wholeheartedly does not mean thoughtlessly pushing harder regardless of whether what we are doing makes sense.

Sometimes faithfulness means working harder. Sometimes it means stopping long enough to sharpen the axe.

Application

  • Before beginning an important task or decision, take time to consider the risks, prepare well, and seek wisdom rather than rushing ahead.
  • When greater effort is producing little progress, ask whether you need to change your approach instead of simply working harder.
  • Think before speaking, recognizing that careless words can create damage that takes far longer to repair than they took to say.
  • Do not confuse being busy or exhausted with being effective; seek to use the time and abilities God has given you wisely.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the wisdom You provide through Your Word. Help me not to rush into decisions, work, or conversations without thinking carefully about what I am doing. Give me discernment to recognize when I need greater effort and when I need to stop and sharpen the axe. Guard my words so that I do not create unnecessary harm through careless speech. Teach me to use my time, energy, and abilities wisely and faithfully for the purposes You have given me. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Don’t Let a Little Foolishness Undo a Lot of Good (Ecclesiastes 10:1–7)

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How much damage can one foolish decision do to a reputation, relationship, or life that took years to build?

Key Verse

“Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.” — Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NASB)

Background Context

In Ecclesiastes 9:11–18, Solomon reminded us that wisdom and hard work do not guarantee the outcomes we expect. A poor wise man could save an entire city and still be forgotten. Yet Solomon concluded that wisdom remains better than strength, even when people fail to appreciate it.

Now in Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon continues comparing wisdom and foolishness. He begins with a vivid picture: a small number of dead flies can ruin an entire container of valuable perfume. In the same way, a seemingly small act of foolishness can damage something that required years of wisdom and honorable living to build.

Solomon then turns toward leadership, observing the disorder that results when foolish people are elevated while capable people are placed beneath them.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 10

A Little Foolishness

     1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left. 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

      5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler— 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 10:1–7:

Solomon’s opening illustration is memorable because the imbalance seems so unfair. The perfume may contain many valuable ingredients and require considerable effort to prepare, yet it does not take an equal amount of contamination to ruin it. Just a few dead flies can make the entire mixture offensive. Solomon says foolishness can work the same way.

A good reputation may take years to establish, while one foolish decision can seriously damage it. Trust can be built through hundreds of faithful choices and weakened through one act of dishonesty. A marriage, friendship, ministry, career, or family relationship can suffer lasting consequences because someone decided that one moment of foolishness would not matter very much.

That does not mean one mistake permanently defines a person’s life. Scripture gives us many examples of people who sinned, repented, and were restored by God. But forgiveness does not mean our choices have no consequences. Wisdom recognizes this before the foolish decision rather than only afterward.

Solomon then says, “A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.” His point is not about modern political categories. In the cultural imagery of Scripture, the right hand commonly represented strength, honor, and the favorable direction. Solomon is contrasting the basic direction of wisdom and foolishness. Eventually, what is happening inside us becomes visible in the direction of our lives.

Yeshua teaches a similar principle when He says, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Luke 6:45). Foolish choices are often not isolated accidents. They can reveal attitudes, desires, or habits that have been developing within us.

The final verses move from personal foolishness to foolish leadership. Solomon observes the frustrating situation in which foolishness is placed in high positions while capable people are given low ones. Servants ride horses while princes walk like servants. Life under the sun does not always place the wisest or most qualified person in authority.

That connects with Solomon’s previous observation that ability does not guarantee recognition. Sometimes foolish people really do receive influence, while wise people are overlooked. Scripture does not promise that every workplace, government, organization, or community will always reward people according to their wisdom.

Our responsibility, however, remains the same. We should not allow someone else’s foolishness to become an excuse for our own. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” We cannot always control who receives authority or recognition, but we can pay attention to the direction of our own hearts and choices.

Wisdom is often built through many ordinary decisions made over a long period of time. Foolishness may ask us to trade all of that for one moment of anger, pleasure, pride, dishonesty, or carelessness.

Before making that trade, Solomon wants us to remember the dead flies.

A little foolishness can undo a great deal of good. Guard what God has helped you build.

Application

  • Before giving in to a seemingly small compromise, consider what years of faithfulness, trust, or good reputation could be damaged by that decision.
  • Pay attention to patterns in your heart that may eventually produce foolish choices rather than waiting until the consequences become visible.
  • When foolish people receive recognition or authority, resist allowing frustration or resentment to pull you into foolish behavior of your own.
  • Build wisdom through consistent daily choices instead of assuming that one careless decision will never matter.

Closing Prayer

Father, give me wisdom to recognize foolishness before I experience its consequences. Help me guard the character, relationships, trust, and opportunities You have allowed me to build. Show me attitudes or desires in my heart that could eventually lead me away from Your ways, and help me address them early. When others act foolishly or receive recognition I believe they do not deserve, keep me from responding with resentment or foolishness of my own. Teach me to walk faithfully and wisely in the choices I make each day. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Do Your Best, but Leave the Results to God (Ecclesiastes 9:11–18)

What happens to your faith when you do everything wisely and diligently—and still don’t get the outcome you expected?

Key Verse

“I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.” — Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NASB)

Background Context

In Ecclesiastes 9:7–10, Solomon encouraged us to receive God’s everyday blessings gratefully and to do whatever work is before us with all our might. Now he guards against an incorrect conclusion: diligent effort does not give us control over the results.

The fastest runner does not always win. The strongest army does not always prevail. The wisest person is not always wealthy or recognized. Life “under the sun” includes unexpected circumstances that human ability cannot completely control.

Yet Solomon does not conclude that wisdom and diligence are worthless. In fact, he finishes the section by showing that wisdom can accomplish what great strength cannot.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

    11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. 12Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

      13Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. 14There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 9:11–18:

Solomon observes something we have probably all experienced: the person who seems most qualified does not always receive the expected outcome. The swift can lose the race, warriors can lose battles, wise people can struggle financially, and talented people can go unnoticed. Skill and preparation certainly matter, but they do not guarantee success.

Solomon explains that “time and chance overtake them all.” He is describing life as we experience it “under the sun,” where circumstances often arrive unexpectedly and beyond our ability to control them. This does not mean YHWH has surrendered His sovereignty to random chance. Rather, from our limited perspective, we cannot predict or control everything that happens simply by making wise decisions.

That distinction can protect us from a dangerous assumption: If I do everything right, everything should work out the way I expect. Scripture never gives us that promise. We should work diligently, make wise decisions, prepare carefully, and obey God—but none of those things gives us control over tomorrow.

Solomon reinforces the point by saying that people do not know their time. Like fish caught unexpectedly in a net or birds in a trap, difficult circumstances can suddenly overtake us. We cannot eliminate every uncertainty from life, no matter how carefully we plan. That should produce humility rather than fear. Our security was never supposed to rest in our ability to predict and control every outcome.

Yet Solomon is not dismissing wisdom. He tells of a small city threatened by a powerful king. A poor wise man delivered the city through his wisdom, accomplishing what strength alone apparently could not. Solomon concludes, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Wisdom matters greatly, even when the person possessing it lacks status, wealth, or influence.

But then comes the painful part: afterward, no one remembered that poor man.

Sometimes you can do something valuable and receive little recognition for it. You can make the wise decision and watch someone else receive the credit. You can faithfully contribute and still be overlooked. Solomon does not pretend that life always rewards people according to their merit.

That gives us an important perspective on the previous section’s command to do our work with all our might. We should pursue excellence, but not because excellence guarantees the outcome we want. We work faithfully because faithfulness is right before God.

Our responsibility is to make wise choices and faithfully use what YHWH has entrusted to us. The results may be greater than we expected, smaller than we hoped, or completely different from what we planned. We may even do something valuable that few people recognize.

Faithfulness means doing our best with what God has placed in our hands while trusting Him with the results we cannot control.

Application

  • Work diligently and make wise decisions without assuming they guarantee the outcome you want.
  • When circumstances disrupt your plans, resist interpreting every unexpected result as evidence that you failed or God abandoned you.
  • Choose faithfulness even when your contribution may receive little recognition from others.
  • Entrust outcomes you cannot control to YHWH while remaining responsible for the choices and work He has placed before you.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me faithfully use the abilities, wisdom, and opportunities You have given me without believing that I can control every outcome. When my plans do not unfold as expected, keep me from becoming discouraged or assuming that faithful effort was wasted. Give me wisdom to make good decisions, diligence to do my work well, and humility to leave the results in Your hands. Help me remain faithful even when others do not notice or recognize what I have done, knowing that You see and know my heart. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Purposeful / Intentional, Wise

Don’t Miss the Life God Has Given You (Ecclesiastes 9:7–10)

Are you so focused on what you are waiting for that you are failing to enjoy and faithfully use what God has already given you?

Key Verse

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NASB)

Background Context

Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that life “under the sun” is temporary. In the previous verses, Solomon emphasized that death eventually comes to everyone. But his conclusion is not that life is therefore meaningless.

Instead, because our days are limited, we should receive them as valuable.

Solomon points toward some of life’s ordinary blessings: food, celebration, marriage, and meaningful work. These things cannot provide ultimate meaning apart from God, but they can be received with gratitude as gifts from Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

    7Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Reflection

Solomon begins, “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart.” Throughout Ecclesiastes, he has exposed the emptiness of trying to find lasting satisfaction in pleasure, possessions, accomplishments, or wealth. Yet he does not conclude that enjoying life is wrong.

There is an important difference between making God’s gifts our purpose and receiving God’s gifts with gratitude.

Food cannot give our lives ultimate meaning. Neither can possessions, marriage, recreation, or success. But when God provides good things, we do not honor Him by refusing to enjoy them. We can receive them thankfully while remembering the One who provided them.

Solomon even says, “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life.” His repeated description of life as “futile” or “vanity” does not mean that relationships are worthless. Rather, they are temporary. The people we love will not always be with us in this present life.

That should make us value them more, not less.

It is easy to postpone enjoying the life God has given us. We tell ourselves that we will slow down after the next project, enjoy our family when work becomes less demanding, or be content once some future problem is resolved.

But Scripture continually reminds us that we are not promised unlimited tomorrows.

Then Solomon turns toward work: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

Knowing that life is temporary should not make us passive. It should make us purposeful.

There is work God has placed before us today—responsibilities to fulfill, people to love, opportunities to serve, and tasks worth doing well. We cannot control how many opportunities tomorrow will bring, but we can be faithful with the ones God has given us now.

Paul expresses a similar principle in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”

Ecclesiastes is teaching us to hold two truths together:

Life is temporary, so don’t cling to it as though it were everything. But life is also a gift from God, so don’t waste it while you have it.

Enjoy His blessings. Love the people He has given you. Do your work faithfully. Thank Him for today.

And do not become so consumed with waiting for a different life that you miss the one God has placed before you.

Application

  • Receive ordinary blessings—meals, relationships, rest, and enjoyable moments—with gratitude rather than taking them for granted.
  • Make time for the people God has placed in your life instead of continually postponing those relationships for something “more important.”
  • Whatever responsibility God has placed before you today, seek to do it faithfully and wholeheartedly.
  • Remember that life is temporary, and let that truth help you value rather than waste the opportunities God gives you.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the life You have given me and for the many ordinary blessings I can easily overlook. Help me not to seek my purpose in Your gifts, but also not to miss the joy of receiving them from Your hand. Teach me to value the people You have placed in my life and to faithfully do the work before me. Give me wisdom to use my limited days well, living with gratitude, purpose, and faithfulness to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Justice / Judgment, Wise

Your Life Is in God’s Hands (Ecclesiastes (9:1-6)

When you cannot understand why God allows certain things to happen, can you still trust that your life is in His hands?

Key Verse:

“For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God.” — Ecclesiastes 9:1 (NASB)

Background Context:

Solomon has repeatedly wrestled with the apparent unfairness and unpredictability of life. He has seen righteous people suffer while wicked people prosper, and he has acknowledged that even great wisdom cannot explain everything God is doing.

As chapter 9 begins, Solomon anchors us in an important truth: the righteous and the wise are in the hand of God. Yet he also confronts the sobering reality that physical death eventually comes to everyone. That truth should not lead us toward despair, but toward faithfully using the life and opportunities God has given us today.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

Men Are in the Hand of God

      1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.

      2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. 4For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. 6Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 9:1–6:

Solomon begins with reassurance in the middle of life’s uncertainty: “righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God.” We may not understand everything happening around us, but God’s people are not abandoned. Our inability to understand His purposes does not mean He has lost control.

Yet life “under the sun” does not always unfold as we expect. The righteous suffer and the wicked suffer. Good people experience tragedy, while those who reject God sometimes prosper. We cannot reliably determine someone’s standing with God simply by looking at their circumstances. Prosperity is not automatic evidence of righteousness, nor is suffering automatic evidence of sin.

Solomon then says that “there is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked.” In context, he is speaking about physical death. Everyone eventually dies regardless of wealth, wisdom, righteousness, or social position. He is not teaching that the righteous and wicked have the same eternal destination. Scripture elsewhere clearly speaks of resurrection and judgment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28–29). Solomon is describing what we observe during this earthly life.

That reality gives urgency to the present. Solomon uses the memorable comparison that “a live dog is better than a dead lion.” However unimpressive our circumstances may seem, while God gives us life there remains opportunity to repent, obey, serve, reconcile, encourage others, and pursue Him. We should not continually postpone what God has given us opportunity to do today.

When Solomon says that the dead “know nothing” and no longer have a share in what happens “under the sun,” he continues speaking from this earthly perspective. Their participation in this present world has ended. The opportunities available during earthly life are no longer available to them.

For followers of Yeshua, we can face that reality with hope. Yeshua declared, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). Physical death is real, but it does not have the final word.

Ecclesiastes therefore gives us two truths to hold together: our earthly lives are temporary, and our lives remain in God’s hands. We cannot control how many days we will receive or everything that happens during them, but we can choose to use the days God gives us faithfully.

Application:

  • Trust that your life remains in God’s hands even when you do not understand your circumstances.
  • Do not judge someone’s relationship with God merely by whether that person is prospering or suffering.
  • Treat today as an opportunity God has given you rather than continually postponing what matters.
  • Consider whether there is an act of obedience, reconciliation, service, or encouragement you should stop putting off.
  • Face the reality of death with the hope of resurrection through Yeshua.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You that my life remains in Your hands even when I do not understand what You are doing. Help me not to measure Your faithfulness by my circumstances. Teach me to recognize that my days are limited and precious and to use the opportunities You give me faithfully. Show me where I have been postponing something You would have me do. Thank You that through Yeshua, death does not have the final word. Help me live today with purpose, faithfulness, and hope. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Fear / Reverence for God, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil, Wise, Worldliness

When Life Does Not Seem Fair (Ecclesiastes 7:15–22)

How do you remain faithful to God when doing what is right does not seem to produce a better outcome?

Key Verse:

“Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” — Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NASB)

Background Context:

As Solomon continues his search for wisdom, he confronts one of the difficult realities of life in a fallen world: righteousness does not always seem to produce immediate blessing, and wickedness does not always bring immediate consequences. He had seen righteous people perish despite their righteousness and wicked people prolong their lives despite their evil.

These observations could tempt someone toward either self-righteousness or reckless living. Solomon warns against both. His answer is not to abandon righteousness, nor is it to conclude that obedience does not matter. Instead, he points us toward humility and the fear of God, recognizing that none of us is perfectly righteous and that our confidence must ultimately rest in Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:15–22

   15I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.

      19Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. 21Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. 22For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:15–22:

Solomon begins with an observation that can be difficult to accept: “There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.” We naturally want life to operate according to a simple formula: obey God and everything goes well; disobey Him and trouble immediately follows. Yet Solomon had lived long enough to recognize that life under the sun does not always work that way.

That does not mean God’s standards have changed or that righteousness is pointless. Scripture consistently teaches that God is righteous and will ultimately judge both good and evil. But in this present life, the consequences are not always immediate. Faithful people suffer. Wicked people sometimes prosper. Obedience does not give us control over our circumstances, and we should not treat God’s commandments as a formula for guaranteeing a comfortable life.

Solomon then gives a warning that can easily be misunderstood: “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?” He is not telling us to limit our obedience to God or suggesting that a little sin makes life healthier. The surrounding verses point instead toward self-righteousness and confidence in our own wisdom. We can begin trusting in our own goodness, believing that our behavior somehow puts God in our debt or makes us superior to others.

At the opposite extreme, Solomon warns, “Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool.” The fact that righteousness does not guarantee an easy life should never become an excuse to embrace sin. We might be tempted to reason, If wicked people sometimes prosper anyway, why bother pursuing righteousness? Solomon rejects that response as well. Sin remains destructive even when its consequences are delayed.

Instead, Solomon points us toward the proper foundation: “The one who fears God comes forth with both of them.” The fear of God keeps us from both extremes. We do not pursue righteousness because we believe we can earn God’s favor or control life’s outcomes. Neither do we abandon God’s ways because obedience sometimes costs us. We seek to obey because we recognize who God is and desire to live according to His truth.

Solomon then brings the discussion closer to home. “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” Before becoming frustrated with the wickedness of others, wisdom reminds us to examine ourselves. None of us stands before God on the strength of our own righteousness. We all need His mercy.

That humility should also influence the way we respond when others speak badly about us. Solomon advises us not to take every word people say to heart because we know that we ourselves have spoken wrongly about others. This does not make harmful words acceptable, but remembering our own failures can help us respond with grace rather than pride or bitterness.

Ecclesiastes 7:15–22 ultimately teaches us to separate faithfulness from outcomes. We do not obey God because obedience guarantees that everything will happen the way we want. We obey because He is God. We trust His wisdom when life seems unfair, acknowledge our own need for grace, and continue walking faithfully even when we cannot see an immediate reward.

That kind of obedience is not a transaction with God. It is an expression of trust.

Application:

  • Continue pursuing God’s ways even when obedience does not produce an immediate or obvious reward.
  • Guard against self-righteousness and the temptation to believe your good behavior puts God in your debt.
  • Never use the apparent prosperity of sinful people as justification for compromising God’s standards.
  • Remember your own need for grace before becoming consumed with the failures of others.
  • Let the fear of God, rather than circumstances or outcomes, guide the way you live.

Closing Prayer:

Father, help me to remain faithful when life does not seem fair and when obedience does not produce the results I expected. Protect me from self-righteousness and from the temptation to compromise because others seem to prosper in sin. Remind me that I also fall short and depend completely upon Your mercy and grace. Teach me to fear You, trust Your wisdom, and obey You because You are worthy—not because I expect You to give me the circumstances I desire. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

His Timing Not Ours, Justice / Judgment, Wise

When Justice Seems Delayed (Ecclesiastes 8:9–17)

Have you ever looked at the world and wondered why those who ignore God sometimes seem to prosper while the righteous continue to struggle?

Key Verse:

“Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.” — Ecclesiastes 8:12 (NASB)

Background Context:

After reflecting on wisdom, authority, and God’s perfect timing, Solomon turns to one of life’s most difficult questions: Why does justice often seem delayed? He observes that evil is not always punished immediately and that wicked people sometimes appear to enjoy long, prosperous lives while the righteous suffer.

Rather than offering an easy explanation, Solomon encourages us to trust God’s justice, even when His timing differs from our expectations. He reminds us that our understanding is limited, but God’s judgment is always perfect.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 8:9–17

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 8:9–17:

Few questions trouble believers more than the apparent success of the wicked. We expect righteousness to be rewarded and evil to be judged, yet life often seems to tell a different story. Solomon observed the same tension thousands of years ago. He watched wicked people receive honor, live long lives, and appear to escape the consequences of their actions. It seemed, at least for a time, that justice had been delayed.

Solomon identifies one reason evil often increases: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). When judgment is delayed, people can mistakenly conclude that God does not see, does not care, or will never act. Instead of leading them to repentance, His patience is often misunderstood as approval.

Yet Solomon refuses to draw that conclusion. Despite everything he has observed, he confidently declares, “Still I know that it will be well for those who fear God.” His confidence is not based on what he sees at the moment but on what he knows about God’s character. The Lord is just, faithful, and true. His timing may not match ours, but His justice never fails. While the wicked may prosper for a season, their apparent success is temporary. Those who fear God possess an eternal hope that cannot be measured by present circumstances alone.

This same truth appears throughout Scripture. Peter explains that what some people perceive as delay is actually an expression of God’s mercy:

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

God’s patience should never be mistaken for indifference. He desires to give people the opportunity to repent, yet His righteous judgment will certainly come in His appointed time.

As Solomon reaches the end of the chapter, he humbly admits that there are limits to human understanding. Even the wisest person cannot fully comprehend all that God is doing. Some mysteries remain beyond our grasp because God’s ways are infinitely higher than ours. Rather than leading us to frustration, this realization should produce humility. We are not called to explain everything God does but to trust the One who does all things perfectly.

That may be one of the greatest lessons of Ecclesiastes. Wisdom is not having every answer to life’s hardest questions. Wisdom is learning to trust God when those answers remain hidden. We may not understand why justice is sometimes delayed, why suffering continues, or why evil appears to prosper for a time. But we do know the character of our God. He is righteous, He is faithful, and He will judge with perfect justice.

When we anchor our hope in God’s character instead of our circumstances, we find peace even in a world where many questions remain unanswered.

Application:

  • Trust God’s justice even when you cannot yet see it.
  • Resist the temptation to measure God’s faithfulness by present circumstances.
  • Remember that God’s patience is an expression of His mercy, not His approval of sin.
  • Rest in the assurance that it will ultimately be well for those who fear the Lord.
  • When you cannot understand God’s ways, choose to trust His character.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your justice is perfect even when I cannot always see it. Help me to trust Your character when life seems unfair and when evil appears to prosper. Keep me from becoming discouraged or envious, and remind me that Your patience is an expression of Your mercy. Give me the humility to accept that I will not understand everything You are doing, and strengthen my faith to rest confidently in Your wisdom, Your righteousness, and Your perfect timing. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Peace / Rest, Wise

Wisdom Knows the Proper Time (Ecclesiastes 8:1-8)

How do you respond when life feels uncertain and you cannot control what comes next?

Key Verse:

“For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.” — Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NASB)

Background Context:

As Ecclesiastes 8 begins, Solomon continues his search for wisdom by turning his attention to authority, discernment, and the limitations of human control. He observes that wisdom changes not only how we think, but also how we respond to those in authority and to the uncertainties of life.

Although we often long to know the future or control our circumstances, Solomon reminds us that such knowledge belongs to God alone. The wise person learns to live with humility, recognizing that there is a proper time for every matter and that the Lord remains sovereign over what lies ahead.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

Obey Rulers

      1Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.

      2I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. 3“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” 4Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

      5He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 7If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? 8No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 8:1–8:

Solomon begins by asking, “Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter?” He immediately answers by describing wisdom’s effect on a person’s life: “A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.” True wisdom is more than knowledge stored in the mind. It transforms a person’s character, bringing peace, discernment, and quiet confidence that become evident to those around them.

He then encourages respect for the king’s authority. In Solomon’s day, openly defying the king could have serious consequences, yet his instruction goes beyond self-preservation. Wisdom recognizes that God has established authority and that responding with humility is generally better than acting rashly or rebelliously. This does not mean that rulers are always right or that believers should obey commands that directly oppose God’s will. Scripture consistently teaches that our highest allegiance belongs to the Lord. However, where obedience to God is not compromised, wisdom encourages a respectful spirit rather than a contentious one.

The heart of this passage is found in verses 5 and 6: “A wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight.” One of the distinguishing marks of wisdom is recognizing that timing matters. Acting too quickly can be just as harmful as failing to act at all. We often want immediate answers, immediate justice, and immediate solutions, but God’s work frequently unfolds according to His perfect timing rather than our preferred schedule.

Solomon then reminds us why humility is so important. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. We cannot tell another person exactly what the future holds, prevent the day of our death, or control every outcome of life. These limitations are not meant to produce anxiety but dependence. They remind us that we are creatures, not the Creator. While we make plans and exercise wisdom, only God sees the end from the beginning.

This truth echoes throughout Scripture. James writes, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that'” (James 4:15). James is not discouraging wise planning; he is encouraging humble planning. Our lives are safest when we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over every future event and willingly submit our plans to His greater wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 8 invites us to exchange the illusion of control for the peace that comes from trusting God. Wisdom is not the ability to predict the future or manipulate circumstances. It is the confidence to walk faithfully today while leaving tomorrow in the hands of the One who already knows it. When we trust His timing instead of insisting upon our own, we discover that His wisdom is always greater than ours and His purposes are always good.

Application:

  • Ask God to give you wisdom not only in your decisions but also in your timing.
  • Respond to authority with humility while remaining faithful to God above all else.
  • Release the burden of trying to control every outcome in your life.
  • Make your plans with diligence, but hold them with open hands before the Lord.
  • Trust that God’s timing is perfect, even when you cannot yet understand His purposes.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding me that true wisdom is found in trusting You rather than trying to control every circumstance. Help me to walk with humility, to respond wisely to those You have placed in authority, and to patiently wait upon Your perfect timing. When I am tempted to worry about the future, remind me that it is safely in Your hands. Teach me to live faithfully today, trusting that You are working all things according to Your good and perfect will. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Fear / Reverence for God, Teachable, Wise

The Marks of True Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7)

If someone observed your life every day, would they conclude that you are growing in biblical wisdom—or simply accumulating more knowledge?

Key Verse:

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.” — Proverbs 4:7 (NASB)

Background Context:

Ecclesiastes 7 is one of the richest chapters in Solomon’s search for wisdom. Rather than focusing on life’s meaninglessness, as earlier chapters often do, Solomon pauses to describe what wisdom actually looks like in the life of someone who fears God. Through a series of observations, comparisons, and personal reflections, he paints a portrait of spiritual maturity.

As we step back from this chapter before continuing into Ecclesiastes 8, it is worth asking what all these individual lessons reveal about the heart of biblical wisdom.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:

One of the first lessons Solomon teaches is that wisdom values an eternal perspective over temporary comfort. He tells us that it is better to spend time in the house of mourning than in the house of feasting because sorrow has a way of reminding us what truly matters. The wise person is willing to receive correction, reflect on life’s brevity, and allow difficult experiences to produce spiritual growth. Wisdom does not avoid reality; it learns from it.

Solomon also teaches that wisdom trusts God’s sovereignty. Life is filled with both joyful seasons and painful ones, and neither occurs outside of God’s knowledge. Rather than constantly longing for “the good old days” or becoming bitter during hardship, the wise person learns to receive both prosperity and adversity with humility, recognizing that the Lord remains sovereign over them all. Wisdom understands that God’s purposes are often greater than what we can immediately see.

Another mark of wisdom is humility. Solomon warns against both self-righteousness and reckless wickedness. He reminds us that none of us is perfectly righteous and that every one of us has spoken or acted in ways that fall short of God’s standard. The truly wise person is therefore slow to judge others and quick to examine his own heart. Wisdom replaces pride with humility because it understands our continual need for God’s mercy.

Finally, Solomon reminds us that wisdom has limits. Even after all his searching, he confessed that complete understanding remained beyond his reach. His conclusion was not that God had failed to provide enough wisdom, but that humanity continually seeks its own schemes instead of trusting God’s ways. True wisdom therefore begins by acknowledging that God’s understanding is infinitely greater than our own. Rather than leaning on our own reasoning, we learn to trust the One whose wisdom is perfect.

Taken together, these lessons reveal something important. Biblical wisdom is not measured by intelligence, education, or the ability to answer every difficult question. It is revealed in a life that increasingly reflects the character of God. The wise person gains an eternal perspective, trusts God’s sovereignty, walks humbly, receives correction, and depends upon the Lord rather than upon himself. Wisdom is not simply knowing what is true—it is allowing God’s truth to shape the way we think, speak, and live.

James describes this same kind of wisdom when he writes:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

Notice that James does not define wisdom primarily by knowledge but by character. That is exactly what Solomon has been teaching throughout Ecclesiastes 7. The truly wise person is recognized not merely by what he knows, but by the kind of person he is becoming.

As we continue our journey through Ecclesiastes, this chapter leaves us with an encouraging reminder. God never promised that wisdom would remove every hardship or answer every mystery of life. Instead, He promises something even better. As we fear Him, trust Him, and walk in His ways, He shapes us into people who reflect His character even while living in a broken world. That is the heart of biblical wisdom.

Application:

  • Ask God to develop His wisdom in your character, not just your understanding.
  • Receive both joyful and difficult seasons as opportunities to grow in your trust of the Lord.
  • Welcome loving correction with humility rather than resisting it with pride.
  • Remember that fearing God is wiser than depending upon your own understanding.
  • Seek not only to know God’s truth but to live it faithfully each day.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for the wisdom You have revealed throughout Your Word. Help me not to pursue knowledge alone, but the kind of wisdom that transforms my heart and reflects Your character. Teach me to trust You in every season, to receive correction with humility, and to depend upon Your understanding instead of my own. Continue shaping me into the person You desire me to become, so that my life will honor You in both word and deed. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Humility, Wise

God’s Wisdom or Our Own? (Ecclesiastes 7:23-29)

Why do we so often believe our way is better than God’s?

Key Verse:

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” — Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NASB)

Background Context:

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes 7, he reflects on the limits of human wisdom. Despite all his searching, observing, and learning, he honestly admits that some things remain beyond his understanding. Even the wisest man who ever lived recognized that human wisdom has its limits.

Yet after all his searching, Solomon arrives at one clear conclusion. The problem is not with God’s design or His wisdom. God created mankind upright, but humanity has continually chosen to pursue its own plans instead of trusting His.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

   23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it? 25I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

      27“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. 29“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:23–29:

Solomon begins this passage with a remarkable confession:

“I said, ‘I will be wise,’ but it was far from me. What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?” (Ecclesiastes 7:23–24)

These words remind us that no matter how much knowledge we gain, there will always be things that belong to God alone. Human wisdom is valuable, but it is not limitless. There are questions only the Creator can answer and truths that can only be understood as He reveals them.

That realization should produce humility rather than frustration. We live in a culture that often assumes every problem can be solved through human intelligence, scientific advancement, or personal insight. Solomon certainly valued wisdom, yet he recognized that human understanding can never replace dependence upon God.

After describing his diligent search for wisdom, Solomon reaches this conclusion:

“God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

The contrast is striking. God created humanity to walk in His ways. His design was good, His wisdom was perfect, and His instructions were given for our good. The problem is not that God failed to provide what we needed. The problem is that people continually seek their own way instead of His.

This pattern began in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed and one simple command to obey. Yet the serpent tempted them to believe that God’s wisdom was somehow lacking and that they could determine good and evil for themselves. Ever since then, humanity has repeated the same mistake—trusting our own understanding above God’s.

Proverbs echoes this truth:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Notice the contrast. Solomon says humanity has sought out its own schemes, while Proverbs calls us to trust the Lord instead of leaning on our own understanding. One path leads away from God’s wisdom; the other leads us back to it.

Isaiah likewise reminds us:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

Following God requires humility. It means acknowledging that His wisdom is greater than ours, even when we do not fully understand His ways.

As followers of Yeshua, we are called to that same humble trust. Jesus did not come merely to give us more information or better philosophy. He calls us to follow Him, to deny ourselves, and to walk in the ways of our heavenly Father. Rather than inventing our own path, we are invited to walk in the one God has already established.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that wisdom does not begin with believing we have all the answers. It begins with recognizing that God does. The more we trust His wisdom above our own, the straighter our path becomes.

Application:

  • Humbly acknowledge that God’s wisdom is greater than your own.
  • Examine areas where you may be relying on your own understanding instead of God’s Word.
  • Ask the Lord to help you recognize and abandon your own “schemes” in favor of His ways.
  • Trust God’s direction even when you cannot see the whole picture.
  • Seek wisdom with humility, knowing that true understanding begins with trusting the Lord.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your perfect wisdom and for creating us to walk in Your ways. Forgive me for the times I have relied on my own understanding instead of trusting You. Help me to lay aside my own plans whenever they conflict with Your will and to walk humbly in the path You have prepared for me. Give me a teachable heart that seeks Your wisdom above my own, and strengthen my faith to trust You even when I do not understand everything You are doing. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.