Have you ever felt powerless? Sometimes when we see tragedies in the world it can provoke a feeling of helplessness. We think, “I wish I could help, but how?” We want to fix the problem but feel completely unable to help. At the end of Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon reminded us of our inability to fix this world. Sin has made us foolish and weak. We don’t know what’s good for us, or what the future holds, or how long we have on this earth. But God does. So, we must look to Him for the solution and meaning of life. Looking to God for the solution means that we seek to obey Him. In chapter seven, Solomon describes what wisdom looks like in our lives because God wants us to be wise. Ecclesiastes 7 gives four facts about wisdom:

First, wisdom is taking life seriously (Eccl. 7:1-6). In a series of proverbs, Solomon uses hyperbole (an exaggerated statement to make a point) to prove that the wise will take life seriously. The wise person will value their reputation. They understand the value of a good name. Wisdom is also having a healthy outlook on death. The wise consider the brevity of life and don’t ignore the reality of death. It’s foolish to ignore death. Death is a healthy reminder of our mortality. Because of sin, we will not live forever on this earth. In contrast, the fool tries to distract himself with fun and pleasure. Someone that takes life seriously will also be open to criticism because they want to learn and grow. It takes humility to accept rebuke, but this is the path of wisdom. In contrast, the fool never listens to advice and laughs at rebuke.

Second, wisdom is having good character (Eccl. 7:7-9). A wise person has integrity. They’re not corrupted by power or lucrative desires. A wise person is patient. They are diligent to see things through. The fool is constantly distracted by the latest and greatest. The wise are humble enough to put the work in and finish what they started. A wise person is slow to anger. The fool is quick to fight and argue, but the wise man is slow to anger and remains calm.

Third, wisdom is living in the present (Eccl. 7:10-12). The wise don’t live in the past. In contrast, the fool is obsessed with the good old days. Like the 40-year-old dad that never got past his glory days in high school, the fool can’t move on. Solomon reminds us that the former days weren’t as good as we remember them. Our egos and pride inflate the past in our minds. Every stage of life has its pros and cons, and we tend to forget the cons. Wisdom understands this fact and moves on from the past. Instead of living in the past, the wise person makes the most of today. Wisdom learns from the past, acts in the present, and plans for the future.

Fourth, wisdom is submitting to God (Eccl. 7:13-14). The wise consider God’s works and submit to them. God controls all things. Nothing He does can be changed or altered. His power and wisdom are beyond any human comprehension. When we consider His works, it should humble us and cause us to submit to Him. This is the essence of wisdom. We must trust and obey God in the highs and lows of life, because He controls both. Wisdom is understanding who God is and humbling submitting to Him. 

Do you take life seriously? Are you known for having good character? Are you learning from the past but living in the present? Do you submit to God? These are characteristics of a wise person. Wisdom can only come from God. To have wisdom, we must submit God and His Word. The Bible contains the wisdom that we need. We must understand this fundamental truth: God is God, and we are not. We need God and we need His wisdom.