Wisdom is Better than Folly (Ecc 7:1–14)

In life’s frustrating and confusing mystery, it may seem worthless to live a godly life. However, Solomon lays out in a beautiful poem the superiority of godly living.
A good reputation gained by godly living is better than material wealth earned apart from it. A life well lived is better than unrealized and uncertain potential (7:1). A funeral is better than a party, because it helps us think about the seriousness of life (7:2). Solemn thought is more profitable than comedy, because true happiness is deeper than a quick laugh (7:3). The wise person is characterized by serious and grave thinking, while the foolish, ungodly person is interested only in fun and laughter (7:4). The rebuke of a wise man is of greater worth than the empty jokes and songs of fools (7:5–6). Extortion or dishonest gain perverts an otherwise good man and corrupts his heart (7:7).
It is better to finish a project than to start another one, because patient endurance is better than boastful pride (7:8). Forbearance and patience are better than the quick temper of a fool (7:9). Constant reflection and yearning for “the good ol’ days” is a waste of time (7:10); rather, one should live wisely today in order to leave an inheritance of wisdom to one’s children (7:11). Money offers financial security but the reward of godly living is eternal life (7:12).
A godly person realizes that God alone is Sovereign, and that he, as a human being, is subject to God (7:13). God sends blessing and God also sends difficulty— both are from him (7:14).
As young people, it is easy for you not to think about eternity or serious things, but the Bible says we would do well to think about the end of our lives, and not just the here and now. What value will what you are involved in now be in a year? What kind of “fruit” will it bear in a year? In five years? In ten years? Twenty?

The Futility of Possessions (Ecc 5:8–6:12)

Another of life’s frustrating and confusing mysteries is the futility of gaining possessions. Oftentimes the poor are oppressed by the wealthy, but God sees all and repays accordingly (5:8–9). However, greater possessions are not the answer, because possessions never satisfy (5:10). With greater income, there are more problems and greater expenses (5:11). Think about your favorite ball player making millions a year: he has to worry about all his houses, cars, taxes, properties, investments, retirement funds, plus all the people who want to get their hands on his money. Almost makes you want to be poor! Solomon (who was not a beggar) gives this conclusion: it is better to work hard and go to bed tired, then to be pampered and not be able to sleep (5:12).
The Preacher gives an example of the futility of possessions: a man saves up and amasses a huge wealth of possessions, only to lose them all in one catastrophic event or bad business deal (5:13–14). Now he has nothing to leave to his children and nothing to live on, and he dies a pauper (5:15). There is no advantage to gaining possessions (5:16–17). The best way seems to be to work hard and enjoy the blessings that God gives (5:18–19), thanking God for the present rather than dwelling on the past (5:20).
Another disadvantage is one that Solomon has brought up earlier: oftentimes people cannot enjoy their possessions at all because they are left to another person (6:1–2). To live an unfulfilled life is worse than never living at all (6:3–5), and death is the “great equalizer,” because it happens to rich and poor alike (6:6). How much of our hard work is “eaten up,” literally or figuratively (6:7–9)? Life is short, and man is not in control of his fate or destiny (6:10). Man must trust in One greater than himself to do what is right and best in his life (6:11–12). To try to control one’s life by gathering possessions is a fruitless and worthless endeavor.

The Importance of Reverence (Ecc 5:1–7)

Because life is often frustrating and confusing, it can be easy to become cynical and flippant toward God. Solomon takes time now to warn the reader about this danger and emphasize the importance of fearing and revering God. He calls on the reader to use care and caution when approaching God in worship (5:1). He is not advising against worship, but against irreverent worship.
He warns us to be careful in our words (and thoughts) to and about God (5:2). God is not merely another person; he is the God of heaven, the Sovereign of the Universe. It is better to be guarded in one’s words than to speak ill-advisedly. Many people think of God as just another “buddy” and forget who God really is. The more you talk, the more opportunities for evil you have (Prov 10:19). It is difficult to talk a lot and still remain a wise (godly) person (cf. Jas 3:1). Just as too much activity brings restless dreams, so too much talking renders one a fool (5:3).
Along the same lines, one should not make promises to God lightly. The Old Testament believers made vows to God in prayer, and when God answered, they were to “pay their vows” by offering the appropriate sacrifices they had promised to God. The Preacher encourages the readers to fulfill their vows and bring the promised sacrifices, because God deserves to be revered and honored (5:4). If you cannot or will not pay your vow, it would be better not to have promised it (5:5). Again, a wise person is very careful about what he says because he realizes that he is accountable to God (5:6).
We must not treat God lightly, but fear and reverence him (5:7). He is not another human being, but he is the completely holy God. He should be treated as such, and our speech ought to reflect the fact that we acknowledge God’s existence and his right to judge us for our actions.