Day 173: Ecclesiastes 10- Raise The Standard

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. 5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
 
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. 11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
 
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! 17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. 19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tells the matter.
 
Meditation
A good coach sees potential and encourages athletes to perform to their highest level. A gifted teacher challenges students to learn, develop, and grow. The preacher of Ecclesiastes joins other parts of scripture in raising the standard for our humanity, empowering the restoration of the image of God  (Colossians 3:10) by helping us see who we are made to be so we can live the way we are created to live.
 
The urgency of walking in wisdom is portrayed immediately through highlighting how a little bit of foolishness ruins the work of wisdom (1). Where do we begin to work out wisdom in our lives? To walk in wisdom begins with the inclination of our hearts (2).  Only grace and love can re-direct the inclination of our hearts for us to walk in wisdom.
 
The preacher raises the standard in several categories of life for folks whose hearts are held by the Lord. Wisdom directs Society (3-7), Success (8-11), Speaking (12-14), and Strength for living with authorities that have an under the sun view (15-20).
 
Wisdom raises our sights to an above the sun design for life in a fallen world, compelling us to raise our standards. The words of wisdom are not suggestions but direction for Divine life.
 
Is Ecclesiastes too distant for this duty? Meditate on the words of Paul from Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
 
Lift the eyes of your heart to this standard of wisdom and let’s grow together.
 
Richly Dwelling
-When you look back at your life, what coach, teacher, mentor, or discipler has impacted you the most, helping you raise the standard for living to the potential of who you are created to be? (You should probably take a moment today to thank them!)
 
-Do you take wisdom as a suggestion or Divine direction? What are your obstacles for walking in wisdom with every step you take? How can you remove them?
 
-Walking in wisdom is a heart issue- only the grace of God gives new hearts. With childlike simplicity, ask Jesus to give you a heart that trusts Divine direction so you can walk in wisdom. And thank Him for the grace to begin again!
 
Key Verse
1Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.