The Wisdom of Solomon
July 11, 2009
Scripture
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything. (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
Observation
Here we see the legendary wisdom of Solomon that is corrupt at the end of his days. Feasts are made for laughter, and wine can bring merriment, but is is because of this final comment that Solomon has turned to despair. Money was his answer for everything – and because of this, everything is ‘vanity of vanities’ everything is meaningless, there is nothing new under the sun. How disappointing.
We know from the account of Solomon’s life that his love of money and foreign wives that he stopped following the God of Israel and was led astray by his wives worship of other gods. When he was first serving as king he saw wisdom as the best gift to receive and asked God for this. Now, it appears that in his wisdom he knows that all of us end in death, that calamity strikes the rich and the poor – so might as well be rich if every thing else is the same.
But in the middle of his argument is the gaping hole left by God. All of what he said is true from a purely humanistic point of view, but believing in God, trusting not only on our own understanding, listening for insight that we alone could never have can bring greater feasts, deeper merriment and even help us to find answers when our money is gone.
Application
I am all for feasting and merriment but I will not agree with Solomon that money is the answer to everything. This is a fool’s argument. I will ask God to bless me with what I need, and trust that this is enough for today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I lift your name and your wisdom above all others today. I pray that your reign and your will be established and done here in the midst of us; Give me today all that I need for life and service and help me know this is enough. Enable me to be forgiving, remembering the depth to which I am forgiven in Jesus Christ. Keep my eyes, hands, and lips from evil today. May your name be praised! Amen.
