Who Is Like The Wise?
29 August 2021 | TRADITIONAL SERVICE
Rev Chia Chin Nam
Scripture Passage: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 (NIV)
WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)
READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | Wisdom is God-guided, God-fearing, God-centred and gives true joy in life.
Wisdom is useful and gives strength, yet it has limitations, cannot provide all answers and leaves life incomprehensible.
The solution is to search God’s word for His wisdom and yield control over every situation, for God’s wisdom is the only one sure thing.
The Preacher shows how to respond wisely to three important areas of life we often struggle with:
1. Dealing with people in authority- vv2-8. We can disobey, desert, devise evil, or obey. Verses 2 and 5 point to obedience, wise discernment and appropriate action toward authority whom God in His sovereignty has put over us. In the flurry of confusion over Covid measures, how are we responding to the efforts of our government who has been placed in authority by God?
2. Dealing with injustices in the world- vv9-13. When evil is not swiftly punished, wrong behaviour is indirectly encouraged and we quickly adopt a nonchalant attitude and cease to fear God. What should we do? Fear God, be attuned to his presence, so that all will be well with us. Listen to Rev Lilian Ang’s sermon on ‘Fear of the Lord’ (5th sermon in the series).
3. Dealing with the mysteries of life; vv14-17.The secret things belong to God, but the things that are revealed belong to us, that we may do the words of the law (Deu 29:29).
In conclusion, the Preacher commended enjoyment even when we fail to make sense of life. A God-fearing, God-centred perspective enables thankful enjoyment of life in the presence of God, yielding refreshment and celebration, even in the midst of toil and trouble. Do not be like the village grouch who wasted 80 years of his life chasing happiness, only to give up at 80, to enjoy life instead, and in so doing, found happiness.
Wisdom says, choose Joy. Enjoy life which itself is a gift from God!.
(Sermon Notes by Kwun Pillai)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. “Wisdom is useful to those who have it when dealing with life’s tough questions, but it has its limitations and cannot provide all the answers to them.” (The Preacher’s conclusion)
a. To what extent do you agree/disagree with the statement above?
b. How have you been applying wisdom in your daily living?
c. Share an area in your life that you find difficult to apply wisdom. Why?
2. “Whoever obeys the authority, obey God. He will avoid evil and do what is right at the right time because he wisely recognises that there are many things outside his control including the time of his death” (8:5-8 paraphrased)
a. How much of the admonishment above is evident in your life?
b. How are you responding to the government’s directives in managing the Covid-19 pandemic? What changes in attitude, thought and behaviour would you make to align with this admonishment?
3. In the face of injustices in this broken and sinful world, the Preacher declares, “Even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off” (8:12).
a. How do you think the Preacher make such a remarkable statement of faith despite seeing the prosperity of the wicked?
b. Would you declare the same? Why?
c. In what way do you think would be better off for those who fear God?
d. Why do you think God is not punishing the wicked as quickly as we wish He would?
4. Life is riddled with mysteries that cannot be understood or explained (8:14-17)
a. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29 ESV)
i. How does this verse speak to those who “die-die” must know and understand everything under the sun?
ii. What is God saying to you about the things that He has graciously revealed to you?
b. Is your quest to understand and explain everything in life hindering you from being joyful?
c. What would it take for you to choose to enjoy life which itself is a gift from God?