July 13, 2023

Ecclesiastes 12: 9, 10 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. (NIV)

Wisdom is a gift of God, not a human achievement.*

If you think you have humility, you probably don’t. But does the same hold true for wisdom? Would it be wrong to clap your hands and sing, “if you’re wise and you know it”? These verses seem to indicate that Solomon was not opposed to an honest (and public) assessment of one's own wisdom.

Read the passage again and you will begin to see that Solomon is not so much bragging about his great wisdom as he is instructing his readers in the proper application of it. It is not meant to be kept to yourself. The Teacher had wisdom but he didn’t hoard it for his own benefit, he shared his knowledge with others. His deep thoughts weren’t a form of entertainment, they were a resource for others. The words he wrote were well-thought out, upright, and true.

When God offered Solomon whatever he asked for, Solomon requested wisdom. It has always seemed to me that in asking for wisdom, he proved that he already possessed it. For the rest of us, our wisdom is usually the hard-earned kind – from experience. Other people, our own bad choices, and life in general – they all provide us with great opportunities to acquire wisdom. If you have learned anything from your life’s experiences, you are now qualified to dispense wisdom to others.

So, let’s not waste our opportunities. Like Solomon, we can impart knowledge; ponder and search out and share what we have learned; pray for the right words so that what we share is upright and true. Wisdom kept to yourself is useless and becomes stagnant. Wisdom shared stays fresh and vital. The more you give, the more you get!

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.*