Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 (NIV)
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 The Message (MSG)
Call me “the Quester.” I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind.
*******************************************************
“I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed. I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.” -AMPLIFIED
“No man can know God unless God has taught him; that is to say, that without God, God cannot be known.” ~Irenaeus of Lyons
Having set forth his theme, that life is meaningless and futile without God, the Teacher begins to share with us how he has reached this conclusion from his own personal experience. The reference that the Teacher makes about himself in today’s text seems to support the thinking that this book, at least in part, was written by Solomon.
“If God gave light and wisdom, the religion of Jesus was soon learned; but without God, a man might study all his life long, and make no proficiency.”
~Adoniram Judson
“I, the teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I decided to seek out and study the wisdom of the ages, of all that had been done under the heavens. I soon discovered the harsh realities of the work God has given us that keeps us so busy. I have witnessed all that is done under the sun, and indeed, all is fleeting, like trying to embrace the wind.” -(VOICE)
The Teacher tells us that he had applied himself to learning wisdom and gaining understanding; earthly wisdom and understanding. He quickly learned that no matter how much you learn there is always more to learn. Once again it appears to be a vicious cycle. The Teacher, in his feeble mind came to the assumption that life was futile, pointless and he assumed the attitude of hopelessness. He compared his experience to chasing after the wind; an impossible and ineffectual effort.
“I, the Preacher, was king of Israel, living in Jerusalem. And I applied myself to search for understanding about everything in the universe. I discovered that the lot of man, which God has dealt to him, is not a happy one. It is all foolishness, chasing the wind.” -(TLB)
It was the Teacher’s ambition to learn more; he felt that it would give him purpose and meaning. In his pursuit of knowledge he eventually found that his quest and search was absurd and ineffectual. We know that Solomon came to the place in his life where he saw the need to ask God for wisdom and God granted it to him. It was Solomon who shared with us these bits of insight:
“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” -Proverbs 1:7 (MSG)
“For the Lord grants wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding.” -Proverbs 2:6 (TLB)
“The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.” -Proverbs 18:15 (AMP)
The Apostle Paul compared the wisdom of this world to foolishness when it came to the wisdom of God. Take note:
“Don’t let anyone deceive himself. If any one of you thinks he is wise in matters pertaining to this world, he is going to be really disappointed. In fact, one must be deemed a fool by worldly standards in order to become truly wise because the wisdom of this rebellious and broken world looks like foolishness when put next to God. So it stands in Scripture, “He catches the wise in their deceitful plotting.” And the Scriptures add, “The Lord knows the highest thoughts of the wise, and they are worthless.” -1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (VOICE)
He also told the Corinthians this about true, godly wisdom:
“However, in the presence of mature believers, we do impart true wisdom—not the phony wisdom typical of this rebellious age or of the hostile powers who rule this age. Despite what you may think, these ruling spirits are losing their grip on this world. But we do impart God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom. Before the ages began, God graciously decided to use His wisdom for our glory. This wisdom has not been grasped by the ruling powers of this age; if they had understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. But as the Scriptures say,
“No eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard
and it has never occurred to the human heart
All the things God prepared for those who love Him.”
God has shown us these profound and startling realities through His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep mysteries of God.”
-1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (VOICE)
“The friend of God must not spend a day without God, and he must undertake no work apart from his God.” ~Charles Spurgeon
My friend, the pursuit of worldly wisdom and knowledge is futile; it will not give us purpose and meaning. Stop chasing after the wind. Our purpose and meaning can be found only in the Lord God. If you desire true wisdom and understanding than you need to ask the Almighty One for it; and He will give it to whoever asks.
“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].” ~James (James 1:5-8 AMP)
My Prayer:
Father God, forgive me for proudly thinking that it was okay to chase after worldly wisdom and knowledge in order to make myself better than others, or worse, smarter and equal to you. I know that you are the Giver of true wisdom and knowledge. I ask that you would impart your wisdom and knowledge to me. Help me to use them for your glory. I know that I am nothing without you Lord. Please, help me to keep a proper perspective on this journey of life.
Growing with God 