Day 47: Proverbs 20:22-Ecclesiastes 2:26 - 90 Day Challenge

Applying Wisdom 

A Study of Humans 

Today, we're finishing up Proverbs and moving on to Ecclesiastes--pretty much an application of Proverbs. 

Let's just jump into it!

Proverbs 21:13 says, "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."

So often we see people who are struggling, not just financially, but also mentally, physically, and spiritually. Many people are quick to judge, they're quick to say, "well, they've brought it on themselves. If they would just do ___________, they wouldn't be in this situation." Sometimes, that may be true. But it doesn't negate the fact that they're still struggling. That they still need help. Every single person makes mistakes, and here, the Bible says that it's a very wise or righteous thing to ignore people in their need.

I think that there's a lot of sound advice and wisdom to be imparted on all of us from Proverbs--frankly, it's too much to get into in a quick thought post. But I find that it very clearly outlines the ways in which we can live the lives God wants us to have--it's just a matter of applying them. 

This is a quick paraphrase of Proverbs 30:7-9, but I love what it has to say. Don't ask for riches, or you may forget the God who blessed you with them. Don't suffer through poverty, or you may find yourself sinning out of desperation. Ask for what you need, ask just for your daily bread. 

Moving on to...

And boy, does it start out bleak. The headings of every passage in the first two chapters talk about how something is meaningless, whether that's wisdom. pleasure, toils, or everything (um, what?). We're off to quite a pessimistic start, right?! 

But Ecclesiastes actually goes much deeper than that. By "everything" it means the things of this earth are meaningless. Which, okay, still bleak. But that's just a fact! Everything eventually dissolves, everything is swallowed up by the earth again. Wisdom is meaningless if it's not applied. 

Also, Ecclesiastes 1:18 makes a very sad, highly applicable point--"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." In this day and age, where news is readily available at our fingertips, we are more aware than ever of all the desperation, all the grievances of the world--and that gets very dark. 

By saying "pleasures" are meaningless, I took that section mostly to mean that stupid, foolish pleasures that don't enhance our life or our well being or our spiritual journey (namely things like overindulgence in alcohol and the like, collection of "stuff") aren't doing anything for us but creating extra baggage. 

And toil is meaningless because if you're spending the day doing things you hate. If you're working a job that is dragging you down and making you feel worthless. If you're throwing your life and efforts into things that are drawing you away from God, your family, and the like, then your life loses meaning. No matter how much effort you throw into something--that doesn't get to leave this earth with you. 

Those are just my thoughts though, and I'm really hoping this book does a quick turnaround! 

Tomorrow's reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-Song of Songs 8:14

Have a wonderful day!

Jill Jafarace

Director of Student Ministry

New Leaf UMC