Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, -And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
SOAP – Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
Solomon was the wisest king on earth. He chose wisdom as his gift from God above all other gifts he could have chosen. He pursued knowledge wherever it could be found. However, the more Solomon learned, the emptier he felt. The more knowledge he obtained, the more grief and sorrow he experienced. The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. Conversely, that which the world deems foolish, salvation in Jesus Christ, is wiser than earthly wisdom. Education in and of itself is not a negative thing, but it only speaks to us about this earthly life. The rest of the story is found in God’s Word. Our answers, knowledge, and wisdom about our earthly life and about eternity are only found there.