Living Wisely in a World of Folly

Living Wisely in a World of Folly

Ecclesiastes 10

                  In chapter 10, the sage reminds us that the world has embraced folly, and it permeates every aspect of life and society, including government. To understand the destructive effects of folly, we need to remember that folly is not an intellectual quality; it is a spiritual quality. The fool is the one who lives life without the consideration of God. It is the world that is dominated by sin. Paul would later describe the universal effects of sin when he states that “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understand, there is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:10-11). For the sage, this lack of rightness and failure to live under the umbrella of God’s moral law is the mark of the fool. Folly (the rejection of God and his moral law) has permeated the world. In 10:1, we are reminded that it is not the amount of folly (or the severity of sin) that brings destruction, but even the smallest amount of folly brings destruction. A small amount of folly corrupts everything. Paul would also point to this truth when he states that a small amount of leaven permeates the whole loaf (Gal. 5:9, see also Matthew 16:6-12). When we live according to God’s moral law, we will choose the right paths to walk; however, when folly infiltrates a person's heart and thinking, it leads them down the wrong path (vs 2-3). Success in life can either be attained or undermined by the starting point.

                  Having reminded us of the universal effects of folly, Solomon now warns of the danger of those who are in leadership who have embraced folly. Again, Solomon is not referring to their intellectual capacity, but to their moral code and foundation. Kings and political leaders often promote individuals to positions of power who have rejected God’s moral law, and as a result, they frequently make impulsive and morally irrational decisions. Thus, Solomon gives insight into how to respond when that happens. It starts by standing firm in one’s position and recognizing that folly will eventually be exposed for what it is. Instead of opposing the king, and thus arousing the wrath of the king, one is to recognize that folly will eventually reveal itself for what it is: a violation of God’s law and the subsequent judgment (vs 8-11). Therefore, we are to be patient and continue to proclaim the wisdom of God so that we can promote the righteousness of the leaders. If we oppose the king, we risk his wrath, which will destroy any influence that we might have (vs 20). Instead, we are to continue to act with wisdom and in accordance with God’s word, recognizing that it will eventually win the day. The best way to defeat folly is by continuing to live in accordance with wisdom. Paul likewise gives us the same principle in Romans 13:1-14. The best way to counter folly is to manifest wisdom. We need to recognize that the most significant impact we can have is to live according to God’s moral law consistently. When we do, then we influence others.