Today I read Ecclesiastes 9 and 10, where everyone alive has a chance at a meaningful and joyous life, and wisdom is better than foolishness. Today I considered that God wants us to have a meaningful, joyous life. God also prefers we listen to the wise.
Make the Best of Life Chances
Everyone is to make the best of the life they are given while they are alive and have a chance on the earth (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12). Regardless of whether a person is righteous or wicked, good or bad, sacrifices to God or not, everyone shares a common destiny. No one knows when disaster will strike, if they will die, or if their name will be remembered. Everyone still alive has a chance to eat, drink, and have a meaningful life with joy and gladness. People do not know when they are going to die.
Wisdom is Better than Foolishness
Wisdom has more benefits and strength than foolishness (Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20). Listen to the soft, gracious words of the wise instead of the loud, reckless, consuming words of the fool. Wisdom is better than strength and weapons of war, like the great king that failed against the small city with a wise poor man. Foolishness can outweigh wisdom. Do not put fools in high leadership positions. Blessed is a land that has noble leaders eating and drinking for strength and not drunkenness.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God wants us to have a meaningful and joyous life. This can be different things for different people including enjoying the food and drink you buy from your labor, or enjoying being married together, or other things pleasing to God.
What can you see from God’s Word you are doing in your life that God wants you to enjoy or find meaningful?
God wants us to listen to the wise people around us. Sometimes the loud, foolish person gains everyone’s attention and gets people to follow him. God prefers we listen to the quiet, wise, poor people for guidance and better results.
When have you waited to make a decision after you are able to talk to the quiet, wise people in the room or that really knew about the topic?