Wise or Foolish?

Sermon Notes

[Ecclesiastes 2:12-13] So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). [13] I thought, "Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

Human KNOWLEDGE has its limits.

[Ecclesiastes 1:16-18] I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them." [17] So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind. [18] The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

There's a difference between WORLDLY wisdom and GOD'S wisdom.

[1 Corinthians 3:19-20] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." [20] And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless."

The accumulation of worldly wisdom is MEANINGLESS.

Wisdom is seeing LIFE from God's perspective

[Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV] Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

True wisdom is simply TRUSTING God in every area of our life.

[Proverbs 1:7 NIV] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom is not just about KNOWING what is right; it's about APPLYING that knowledge.

[James 1:5-7] If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. [7] Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.