(considering) 8:28

Text Reflecting: Ecclesiastes 2, Proverbs 2

Some might imagine that lies are as useful as the truth. After all, people who lie often get ahead. Those who seem rich and famous are often not very nice people. And yet, Proverbs 2 tells us that wisdom is not merely good in becoming a better person, but is useful in knowing to avoid evil people and especially evil women.

This is important, because evil is often seductive. It’s always easier in the short term to follow on with whatever is going on around you, and the ease provided by the wealth, power and enjoyment often feels like the right way to go.

Yet the preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us in Ecclesiastes 2 that wealth and entertainment are ultimately futile. Yet there is also a bit of a difficult set of ideas here, as Ecclesiastes also tells us that wisdom has no real ultimate benefit over foolishness, after all both the foolish and the wise end up in the same place (death, the grave).

This likely means that wisdom, and the efficacy of wisdom are not ends in themselves. This is again why it is so important to be seeking the Lord and the fear of the Lord.