Then I saw that there is more benefit in wisdom than in foolishness,
more benefit in light than in darkness.
A wise man has eyes in his head so he sees where he walks,
but the fool continues in darkness.
Yet I perceived
that the same fate overtakes them all.
Then I said in my heart,
“What happens to the fool will happen to me also.
So to what advantage is my wisdom?”
Then I said to myself,
“This also is vanity.”
For there is no lasting memory for the wise or the fool,
by which in the coming days everyone will be forgotten.
How the wise dies just like the fool!
Ecclesiastes 2:13-16So to what advantage is my wisdom?”
Then I said to myself,
“This also is vanity.”
For there is no lasting memory for the wise or the fool,
by which in the coming days everyone will be forgotten.
How the wise dies just like the fool!
Observation: The wise author sees that being wise - intelligent, thoughtful, cautious and considered in action and word - is beneficial in day-to-day life over being foolish. However, he also notes the long-term outcome of both conditions. Both the wise man and the fool will die, and in dying their work becomes meaningless and eventually unmemorable. He even goes on that, if any wise work has been done, it will be taken over by another who may be a fool and thus become foolish.
Application: I have been fretting about various earthly issues associated with 'work'. However, God is clear that earthly work is NOT the ultimate outcomes of our lives, for that work will end or even be subverted eventually ... the work itself is vapor and meaningless. It is instead joy in the Lord, and the manner in which we treat others, that matters in our work. This is a lesson I must take to heart ... a lesson that is made clear not only in the teaching of what we must do to love one another, but re-enforced by this fact that all other activity is ultimately pointless.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love this day, and for the feeling of calm you have placed on my heart. I do surrender these thoughts about the future of my son to you, for I know you have a plan for my him, and it is a good plan full of hope and joy. I trust in you alone. Amen.
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