BIBLE COMMENTARY/Ecclesiastes 7: 12

ECCLESIASTES 7: 12 – For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

– In comparison, wisdom and money all bring benefits to human life, but, according to the Bible, wisdom is better and more important than money (Proverbs 3: 15).
– Wisdom and money are not easy to come by, therefore humans must work hard to get them. Laziness is the big obstacle that prevents humans to have wisdom and money (Proverbs 6: 6, 10: 4).
– People can find money in many different ways, but generally there are two main ways: good and bad.
– When people earn their money by good ways, they can spend it in peace and have some respect from others.
– But when a person earn money by bad ways, he will suffer many consequences and pay heavily for it, even with his life.
– As the Bible indicated, people can use wisdom and money as a way to defend themselves, like to keep them healthy or being safe.
– But the benefits that money bring into human life are not many as wisdom’s. They can be bad instead.
– Rich people can be melancholy, unhappy. Many wealthy people have broken families. They can become drug addicts. They can be tempted to have unhealthy or sinful deviant lifestyle.
– Money also can be taken away for a person by many means, naturally or by force from others, like by robbers or thieves. Thus money is not quite a permanent or good thing in human life (Proverbs 27: 24).
– On the contrary, wisdom is always good for human and can be managed to be constant in a person’s life to the end.
– Wisdom helps a person to know what should be done and what must be avoided at all cost.
– Wisdom can give a person health, wealth, happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment in all aspects of human life.
– More importantly, wisdom cannot be taken from a person by any means (Psalm 119: 98) except when he/she departs from it by his/her own negligence or by falling at temptation.
– As wisdom is better than money as such, young people should try their best to find it, have it and keep it.
– The best way to have wisdom is to obey God’s commands in the Bible (Psalm 111: 10, 19: 7).

QUOTED VERSES:

PSALM 19: 7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

PSALM 111: 10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

PSALM 119: 98 – You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.

PROVERBS 3: 15 – She (wisdom) is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

PROVERBS 6: 6 – Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.

PROVERBS 10: 4 – He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

PROVERBS 27: 24 – For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.