Wise Words for Living (Ecc 10:1–20)
In the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life, we find wise words for living in God’s Word. Ecclesiastes 10 is a collection of proverbs (similar to the book of Proverbs) that give various examples of wise living, truisms, and other observations about life. I encourage you to read this chapter along with my short synopses of each proverb.
While wise living takes years of hard work, it can all be ruined in a few moments of sinful folly (10:1). The heart of a man is the source of his actions, a truth that our society today would do well to learn (10:2). Foolish and sinful thinking affects every area of life (10:3). Remaining calm can diffuse a tense situation, while reacting in kind escalates an already sticky situation (10:4).
Foolish living is not limited to poor, underprivileged people; rather, it can be found throughout all strata of life (10:5–7). However, those who are unscrupulous in their dealings usually end up becoming a victim of their own cruelty (10:8–9).
Oftentimes brute force does the job, but skillful application of that force multiplies its effectiveness (10:10–11). The speech of a man reveals his character, often determines his course in life, and demonstrates whether he is wise or a fool (10:12–15). A country is happy when its leaders are wise and prudent in their dealings (10:16–17). Hard work is the answer for those who complain about being poor. Even a modest home can be well-repaired (10:18). The good things of life, God’s gifts, should be enjoyed as we go through life (10:19). Do not slander people because it will be your ruin (10:20).
As you read these proverbs, some seem a little random, but the underlying theme is that we have a responsibility in life: obeying God and living in a way that pleases him. There are many things about life that we cannot control, but we are responsible for our choices, actions, words, and thoughts before God.
While wise living takes years of hard work, it can all be ruined in a few moments of sinful folly (10:1). The heart of a man is the source of his actions, a truth that our society today would do well to learn (10:2). Foolish and sinful thinking affects every area of life (10:3). Remaining calm can diffuse a tense situation, while reacting in kind escalates an already sticky situation (10:4).
Foolish living is not limited to poor, underprivileged people; rather, it can be found throughout all strata of life (10:5–7). However, those who are unscrupulous in their dealings usually end up becoming a victim of their own cruelty (10:8–9).
Oftentimes brute force does the job, but skillful application of that force multiplies its effectiveness (10:10–11). The speech of a man reveals his character, often determines his course in life, and demonstrates whether he is wise or a fool (10:12–15). A country is happy when its leaders are wise and prudent in their dealings (10:16–17). Hard work is the answer for those who complain about being poor. Even a modest home can be well-repaired (10:18). The good things of life, God’s gifts, should be enjoyed as we go through life (10:19). Do not slander people because it will be your ruin (10:20).
As you read these proverbs, some seem a little random, but the underlying theme is that we have a responsibility in life: obeying God and living in a way that pleases him. There are many things about life that we cannot control, but we are responsible for our choices, actions, words, and thoughts before God.
Labels: Ecclesiastes
posted by Mark Perry at 7:27 PM
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