Ecclesiastes 7:14-29
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
Ecclesiastes 7:23,24
We know from our study of Proverbs that wisdom is well worth pursuing, that we should seek for it like treasure. The Preacher likewise values wisdom. (Ecc. 7:19) But he also recognizes our human limitations. Some things are just beyond us and always will be, because God has made it so, such that man may not find out anything that will be after him. (Ecc. 7:14)
And speaking of limitations, I’ll leave it to someone much wiser and braver than I to wade into the minefield we have in Ecc. 7:25-29. I’m reminded of the Southwest Airlines TV commercial that had Mary Todd Lincoln confronting Honest Abe with the question, “Does this dress make me look fat?” at which point Southwest cuts in with “Want to get away?” I’ll just leave it there…
Ecclesiastes 7:21: Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.
Early in my Christian walk I was interested in a young woman who had joined our church and our small group. When we didn’t see her for a couple of weeks I was visiting our pastor and suggested that she quit coming because of me. He laughed and said, “We get upset about what people think about us. We’d really be troubled if we knew how little time they actually spend thinking about us!”
My take away on these readings is this: The Preacher is warning us about pride and being so good and so wise in our own eyes (Ecc. 7:16-18). We can lose the true reason for being good —> honoring God.