Ep 476 – Ecclesiastes 10:8-20

In the first seven verses of Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon addressed the inherent weaknesses with wisdom. But now, in verses 8-20, he provides us with ample proof of wisdom's worthiness. It's a good thing. And if anybody could speak as an authority in wisdom, it was Solomon, the wisest man who has ever lived. He had a lot of experience with wisdom. And over his long life, he had used and abused it. He had experienced its many benefits and suffered the consequences of relying on wisdom without relying on the one who gives it: God. In these verses, Solomon will change writing styles, delivering his message in the style we normally associate with his other book, Proverbs. He'll deal with wisdom as it relates to work and then he'll apply the proper association between wisdom and the tongue. Let's face it, just about all of us have to work for a living, so a great deal of our life is spent in an arena where wisdom is desperately needed, but often in short supply. And every one of us knows what it's like to struggle with trying to speak wise words. Far too often, we speak before we think, and end up saying things we regret. Wisdom could save us from a multitude of troubles, if we just learned to shut up before we speak up. As James wrote, "the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself." And Solomon would have wholeheartedly agreed. Finally, Solomon closes out this chapter with a primer on wisdom and leadership. Nobody wants to be led by a fool, but sometimes we fail to notice that we're the ones at the head of the parade, and wisdom isn't the tune to which we're marching.