Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:1 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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Wisdom
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I. It is Better (7:1-12)

>1. Why is the day of death better than the day of birth? (1-2; Matthew 22:31-32; John 11:23-26; Hebrews 9:27-28)

* Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 "A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."

* Matthew 22:31-32 "But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

* John 11:23-26 "Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

* Hebrews 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

* "A good name"

* "day of death"

* "a house of mourning"

* "a house of feasting"

* "take this to heart."

* A good name is better than fine perfume. A good name is when people speak well about you when you are not around to hear them. Two ways exist for a person to have a good name. One is to advertise causing others to speak about someone they really don't know. The second is to do kind acts for others, treating them with love and respect. The selfless person is the fragrant aroma of a flower garden in the barnyard of many people's lives.

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting. (2)" The house of mourning is the funeral home. The house of feasting is most likely a wedding banquet. His point here is that the hard times teach us more than happy times. This is not to say we cannot learn during happy times. Just that we are not likely to choose to seek the growing potential in the house of feasting. Show me a couple who remained lovingly loyal to each other when they went through hard times and I will see a deeply mature relationship.

Lastly, "Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. (2)" I have seen a building go up that the owners did not plan well. When it can time to move in and use it the building was deemed unfit for occupation and torn down. Life under the sun is the time to consider death and prepare. First, make wise health, emotional, social, and economic choices when young and maintain them. Most importantly make a sound religious choice. Chose God so that it will go well with you when you stand before Him at the judgment seat.

>When is sorrow good?

* Ecclesiastes 7:3 "Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart."

* "Sorrow"

* "laughter"

* "a sad face"

* "good for the heart"

>Why is it foolish to have a heart in the house of pleasure? (4)

* Ecclesiastes 7:4 "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure."

* "The heart of the wise"

* "the house of mourning"

* "the heart of fools"

* "the house of pleasure.

>2. How is a wise man's rebuke good? (5-6)

* Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 "It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless."

* 1 Timothy 5:20 "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning."

* 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."

* Titus 1:13-14 "This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth."

* Revelation 3:19 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."

* "a wise man's rebuke"

* "the song of fools"

* "thorns under the pot"

* Knowing and accepting that the life I live now under the sun is just the beginning and knowing and accepting that the choices I make now will affect how I live the next stage of life under eternity; knowing these makes verses like these completely understandable and wise.

What makes my face sad (3)? Why does my heart get down? Sometimes I do not know the reason. Sometimes it is a dream I had just before I awoke and got out of bed. Always sadness is my response to events I didn't want nor like to happen. Sadness should always be followed with reflection on the reason for the state I am in and strengthening my will to focus on better things happening right now. Sadness can and should have me focus on Christ. "You will have trouble in this world. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Happy times generally teach me less than hard times (4). Knowing this makes me appreciate the hard times better. A day will come when I will thank God for allowing me time to mourn. In this life, I thank God for the times of pleasure often and the times of mourning practically never. In the next life, I will thank him for the times of mourning that I experience now because they will have lead to a good life in the next. Mourning is a part of the road of salvation.

Today the response to a rebuke is personally attacking the wise rebuker. Yet, a wise man's rebuke will lead to a closer walk with God (5). David's response to the prophet's rebuke was a much better response than Saul's response to the prophet's rebuke.

Thorns burning make a lot of sounds but produce no heat (6). Thus thorns are not a fuel to use to cook dinner. The laughter of fools is usually generated by alcohol, sarcasm, and sadistic jokes. Such laughter does not help the soul. Being happy is subject to the environment. Joy is subject to the presence of God's Spirit. The gift of God is love, joy, and peace. These are good for the soul.

>Why is extortion and bribes wrong? (7)

* Ecclesiastes 7:7 "Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart."

* "Extortion"

* "turns a wise man into a fool"

* "a bribe corrupts the heart"

*

*

The Execution of Death

* A skeleton (representing death) is executed as a man and woman look on. In the center is an hourglass, the reminder of human mortality. The 54 images of Hans Holbein's "The Dance of Death" (Lyon, 1538) were cut by Hans Luetzelburger and here appear in the 1547 Latin edition of the work. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>Why is patience better than pride? (8)

* Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride."

* "The end of a matter"

* "its beginning"

* "patience is better than pride"

*

*

>3. Why do fools try to provoke the righteous? (9)

* Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."

* Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

* "quickly provoked in your spirit"

* "anger resides in the lap of fools"

* The Teacher of Ecclesiastes has repeatedly stated, "Everyone can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work (toilsome labor) under the sun during the few days of life God has given him. This is from the hand of God, a gift. Then joy will accompany him in his work. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (2:24, 3:12-13, 5:18-20, 8:15, 9:7, 12:13-14).

The approach to life under heaven, in the Teacher's view, is to find satisfaction in work. Yet he also states that work is toilsome. Toilsome labor can bring frustration, disgruntlement, anger, and even hate. So how to have satisfaction in toilsome labor?

The first direction to enabling the best that life can be made into is to have endurance (8). "The end of a matter is better than its beginning..." When either I set my will to do something or when something is thrust on me I need to keep the goal and prize at the end of the task in mind. Surely life under the sun since Adam and Eve were forced out of the garden setbacks and disappointments will come. The greater the task, the more toil is needed. By keeping my eye on the goal I will be able to continue and even start the task over.

The second direction is related to the first. I need to be patient (8). When setting a goal and keeping my will set on the goal impatience creeps into my heart. I want the goal now. So I am tempted to take shortcuts and accept mediocre results as the labor continues. This brings setbacks and diminishes to gift of satisfaction of a work well done when the job is finished. "By standing firm, you will gain life." (Luke 21:11)

The third direction to the approach to a task and a job is to be slow to anger (9). "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit to anger..." Often, if not always when in the middle of the strive to reach a goal there will be people and events that will cause even the calmest to be provoked into anger. The ability to control anger is gained and matured through continual execution of it. One of the unrecognized gifts of toilsome labor is that it presents times to improve the resistance to be quickly moved to an angry reaction.

When Jesus was teaching in the temple he saw the evil conducting of business in the temple courts that interfered with praying and his teaching. At that time he was not quick to anger. He surveyed the religious crime and left the temple in the evening. He prayed and returned the next day. This is when he upset the exchange tables and chasted out the business activities in the temple. (Mark 10:11-20)

So then, three important tools for gaining satisfaction in work are to have patience and endurance, to be patient, and to not be quickly provoked in my spirit to anger.

>What question is it now wise to ask and why? (10-11)

* Ecclesiastes 7:10-11 "Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun."

* "Wisdom, like an inheritance"

* "is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun"

* "Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions." Simple enough verse that leaves many questions to consider.

Why do people ask open-ended questions? No one expects this question to be answered. Even when they receive an exact answer it is not what they want to hear. In fact, this open-ended question is not meant to be answered.

No one who asks, "Why were the old days better than these?" really wants this question answered. Rather, they are expressing two points; the old days were better and they are not happy with their life. The first point "the old days were better" does not really matter to them.

So then self-examination questions that need to be asked and answered are: Were the old days really better? What do you miss about the past? Why are you unhappy? What changes can and should you do? Why remain a stick in the mud? Is the problem really external or is it in you?

Solomon says that it is not wise to ask, "Why were the old days better than these?" because living in the past is unhealthy and unwise. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) Make a decision right now to change your attitude and perspective

>Why is wisdom better than money?

* Ecclesiastes 7:12 "Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."

* "Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter"

* "advantage"

* "wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."

*

II. Consider What God Has Done (7:13-22)

>4. What does verse 13 instruct us to do?

* Ecclesiastes 7:13 "Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?"

* "Consider what God has done"

* "Who can straighten what he has made crooked?"

*

>When times are bad what should we consider? (14)

* Ecclesiastes 7:14 "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."

* "When times are good, be happy"

* "when times are bad, consider"

* "Therefore"

* "God has made the one as well as the other"

* "a man cannot discover anything about his future."

* God's work cannot be undone or changed (13). Consider God's work carefully. Solomon was not fatalistic when he states, "Who can straighten what God has made crooked?" Rather, he wants me to consider what God has done.

Human nature considered God weak and unproductive in the world until something happens that we do not like. Then we are unhappy, upset, and even angry at God. When good things happen in our life perhaps some will thank him; a few may even worship him. Yet we usually do not acknowledge that God brings the good and the bad (14). God is sadly too often removed from our hearts and minds.

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made he one as well as the other. (14)" Reverence and fear of the Lord can be born from this truth. Some don't want to believe that God made bad times and others don't want to accept that he is responsible for the good, not them.

I can write so much on this topic (and have). Yet, my heart says, "Wake up oh sleeping soul. Consider God. Consider your life. You do not know what will happen tomorrow or in one hour. Turn your heart over to Jesus. Eat him into your soul and you will be able to feast on his love and strength."

"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:3-4)

>Why is it that God doesn't reveal to us the details of our lives in advance? (Luke 7:48-50; John 14:1; Romans 1:17; and 2 Cor. 5:6-7; Hebrews 10:35-39)

* Luke 7:48-50 "Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

* John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

* Romans 1:17 "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

* 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight."

* Hebrews 10:35-39 "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

*

God Guides a Ship to the Shore

* The engraving titled "God Guides a Ship to the Shore" appears in a book by Radziwill, Mikolaj Krzysztof, ksiaze (1549-1616). The two verses are Ecclesiastes 43 (does not exist) and Psalms 106. Ecclesiastes 43 translation is "In his talk is the wind chanted, and by his thought they appease the abyss". God uses wind to gently guide a ship to a city port. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>5. Why is verse 15 hard to understand?

* Ecclesiastes 7:15 "In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness."

* "In this meaningless life of mine"

* "I have seen"

* "a righteous man perishing in his righteousness"

* "a wicked man living long in his wickedness"

>What do verses 16-17 have to do with verse 15?

* Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 "Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time?"

* "Do not be overrighteous"

* "neither be overwise"

* "why destroy yourself"

* "Do not be overwicked"

* "do not be a fool"

* "why die before your time?"

>What does it mean to fear God?

* Ecclesiastes 7:18 "It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes]."

* "It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other."

* "The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes]."

* The sum of verses 15 thru 18 is, "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." Moderation was a common life practice of past generations. Solomon and I witnessed that some righteous and some wicked go to extremes to their ruin (15-17). He and I also witnessed that some wise people become so book-headed that they are useless and empty, just as some fools become so much so that they live in utter poverty or the insane institution.

How does fear of God help a person to live a balanced lifestyle? These verses guarantee that if I fear God I will not be legalistic religious and not evil; both of which destroy self. What is fear of God? Fearing God is similar to loving God. In fact, one cannot truly exist without the other. These two are part of a life of moderation; fear God and love God.

Fearing God is deeply understanding that he can control everything; God is in charge. Fearing God means I know he knows the motivation of my actions. God knows my inner thoughts and feelings. Fear has to do with accountability, discipline, and punishment.

Thus, the person who fears God will avoid all extremes.

>6. How important is wisdom? (19)

* Ecclesiastes 7:19 "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city."

* "Wisdom"

*

>Are all sinful? (20; Romans 3:22-24)

* Ecclesiastes 7:20 "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins."

* Romans 3:22-24 "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

* "righteous man on earth"

* "does what is right"

* "never sins."

*

>Being all are sinful what is sure about human love and loyalty? (21-22)

* Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 "Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you-- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others."

* "Do not pay attention to every word people say"

* "you may hear your servant cursing you"

* "you know in your heart that many times you yourself have"

* "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." (20) A fundamental truth that is repeated elsewhere in the Bible. Responses to this vary depending on the mood and situation we are in.

First, we completely deny the truth that we are not righteous. We believe we never do wrong or that there is no such thing as moral and ethical right and wrong.

Second, we justify ourselves by believing that our circumstances allow for a variance from moral and ethical perfection.

Third, we accept an error only briefly. Then brush it off and forget about it (or at least try).

Fourth, we acknowledge we did not do what is right, then compare ourselves to someone else or a fictional person saying, "At least I am not as bad as that person."

Fifth, we know we are sinful and accept having little control over ourselves. Then we respond by dropping all inhibition and control. We purposefully and deceptively are evil.

Sixth, we accept, acknowledge, and confess to God and another that we have sinned and are not righteous. We are heartfully sorrowful for our actions and desire to sin no more. We ask God for forgiveness and the strength and courage to live a life that is right with Him and others.

The last one is freedom from the drudge of sin. The last is the beginning of living life to the full. The last is only possible because of Jesus the Christ./p>

III. In Search of Many Schemes (7:23-8:1)

The Writings of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Solomon

* In this image, the Old Testament prophets lounge and converse in a courtyard with their writings open before them. Featured prominently are Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Solomon. The engraving is in the book by Leclerc, Jean (fl. 1573-1627). It's title, "Figures des histoires de la Saincte Bible, accompagnees de briefs discours : contenans la plus grande partie des histoires sacrées du Vieil & Nouueau Testament, & des oeuures admirables du Dieu viuant, createur de ciel & de la terre, & de Iesu-Christ son fils vnique nostre sauueur & redemteur. : Pour l'exercice ordinaire des ames deuotes & contemplatives. : Le tout dedié au Roy tres-chrestien" translates, "Figures of the stories of the Holy Bible, accompanied by brief speeches: containing the greater part of the sacred stories of the Old & New Testament, & of the admirable works of the living God, creator of heaven & earth, & of Jesus Christ his son bless our savior & redeemer. : For the ordinary exercise of devotional & contemplative souls. : All dedicated to the Very Christian King". Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>7. What did Solomon have to confess? (23-24; and 1 Kings 3:10-15)

* Ecclesiastes 7:23-24 "All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"-- but this was beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?"

* 1 Kings 3:10-15 "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." Then Solomon awoke--and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court."

* "All this I tested by wisdom"

* "but this was beyond me"

* "Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?"

>Since wisdom seemed unreachable what did he decide to do? (25)

* Ecclesiastes 7:25 "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly."

* "So I turned my mind to understand"

* "to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things"

* "to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly."

*

* Even the person who masters a subject will admit to themselves (and perhaps another) that they are not the master of the subject. Rather the subject is their master.

The painter who with persistence seeks to perfect technique, dedicating every aspect of self to stroke and media, will look at the skill of another devoted aficionado, seeing something new and unknown that they must master. The ever pursuit of perfection turns them into a slave of inner demands.

The entrepreneur who with gall and effrontery seeks to dominate an industry, dedicating every aspect of self to dominance and control, will look at the prowess of another business and sees something demanding acquisition. Every pursuit of dominance turns them into a slave of inner demands.

The wise who is determined to excel in knowledge and understanding, dedicating every thought to wisdom, will find new information demands new perspective and intelligence. In the ever pursuit of wisdom they will eventually admit it is beyond them. If they do not admit, "Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound, who can discover it?" (23-24) they will be buried in a hole of despair.

Solomon the wise who descended into this valley miffed with waning strength, "I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness, and the madness of folly... Meaningless, utterly meaningless." (25)

Solomon who sought to understand the human soul, what drives a person living under heaven discovered the truth that many who believe in life apart from God is chasing after the wind. He discovered that he was chasing after the wind. His life had been meaningless. He had discounted the truth of God and accepted a lie.

Who can rescue the human soul? Thanks be to Jesus and the power of salvation he brings.

>What did he discover? (26; and 1 Kings 11:1-6)

* Ecclesiastes 7:26 "I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare."

* 1 Kings 11:1-6 "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter--Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done."

* "I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare"

* "whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains."

* "The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare."

*

>8. While investigating and try to understand what did Solomon discover?

* Ecclesiastes 7:27 "Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things"

* "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things"

*

*

>How rare was upright men in Solomon's day?

* Ecclesiastes 7:28 "while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one [upright] man among a thousand, but not one [upright] woman among them all."

* "while I was still searching but not finding"

* "I found one [upright] man among a thousand"

* "not one [upright] woman among them all."

*

*

>Why? (29)

* Ecclesiastes 7:29 "This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes."

* "God made mankind upright"

* "men have gone in search of many schemes."

*

*

* The modern terms toxic relationship and codependency are similar to verse 26. Codependence in sociology is a theory that attempts to explain imbalanced relationships where one person enables another person's self-destructive tendencies and/or undermines the other person's relationship. Solomon called such a person, "a snare whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains."

I recently learned of two young women who were lifelong friends. They came into relationships with two men and married. The one young woman used the weakness of her friend to lead her into an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Both of them were then subdued by a drug dealer who selfishly manipulates them. Looking into the drained sad eyes of these ladies I realized that the young woman who lead her lifelong friend into a destructive path ended up trapping herself.

Considering the two young ladies' husbands who know of their wives' activities, the drug dealer who manipulates the four, the proud mother of the drug dealer who reveals their life, and the city leaders and area wealthy (who I learned from a former law informant) profit from the drug sales; I have searched and sadly face the truth of verses 27 and 28, "one upright man in a thousand, not one upright woman among them."

The saddest realization is, "God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes (29)." I met these five young people and an elderly mother who has such an amazing chance at being alive, living life to the full, and being a good influence waste away in their self-destructive schemes. They were made upright and chose to destroy themself and those they know. They can be made upright again through faith in Jesus.

What can I do to help these six people come to salvation of life, body, soul, and spirit through Jesus? Lord Jesus rescue these people I have personally met. Here are my five loaves and two fish. Feed them.

>9. What does wisdom do?

* Ecclesiastes 8:1 "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance."

* "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance."

*

*

>Why do so few seek it? (John 3:19-21)

* John 3:19-21 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

*

*