Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Wisdom hurts

Eccles. 1:16-18
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
  • God caused Solomon to be the wisest man that ever lived. How would you like God to do that for you?
  • What did Solomon set out to know?
  • Why would you want to know wisdom?
  • What does it mean to know wisdom?
  • Why would you want to know madness and folly?
  • How would you set out to know wisdom?
  • How would you set out to know madness and folly?
  • Why did Solomon decide his quest was like chasing the wind?
  • When is the quest for wisdom over?
  • If you are seeking folly, when is your search over?
  • Why does wisdom contain much grief or vexation?
  • Why does increasing knowledge increase pain and sorrow?
  • When have you known that hurt and sadness were heading at you but could not avoid it?
  • When have you watched those you love do what you knew to be foolish things?
  • How did your knowing it was foolish cause you grief?
  • Why is resting your identity, pride, and hope on knowledge unwise?
  • Why is resting your identity, pride, and hope on earthly wisdom foolish?
  • What was the main temptation that Satan used on Eve?
  • Why was one of the curses of eating the fruit actually the believed benefit of eating the fruit?
  • How does having to make wise choices cause grief when you don't?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's strange to me that the more I understand, the more pain and difficulty I experience. I guess that's because I can see and realize the imperfections that are around me. I guess the old saying, "There's nothing free," comes to light here. Wisdom comes with a "price tag." For example, I have observed a grandson do a very foolish thing. He is not a bad person, but he made a decision that was foolish. I knew from experience that he shouldn't do that, but he did. The consequence was very painful to me and still is. My grandson and I have talked many times about what he did. He now knows he was foolish and the consequences will follow him all his life.