The Meaning(lessness?) of LifeMuestra

Day 2: The Meaninglessness of Wisdom

For a book by a wise man, all about wisdom, it's surprising to read that wisdom is meaningless, but that's Solomon's conclusion in today's verses.

 He's not saying there's necessarily anything wrong with wisdom in and of itself, but if we try and find meaning in wisdom alone, we will only be dissatisfied. 

Someone could study the vastness of the oceans all their lives, and yet never plumb the depths of all there is to know about them. We could sit on the seashore and consider its vastness, but our thirst for knowledge is never quenched, just like untreated sea water cannot quench our physical thirst. 

God gave Solomon a blank cheque when he was a young man for whatever he would like. He wisely chose wisdom, because he knew he would need it as king of ancient Israel. Even so, Solomon knew that there are limitations to wisdom. It can take us so far, but it cannot satisfy our souls. 

It's not enough to be so wise as to know the meaning of life, if we don't put that knowledge into practice. It's all very well to know wisdom and even to talk the talk, but unless we walk the walk, we're going to be unfulfilled. 

Even in this walk of life, even if we live wisely, there are going to be plenty of frustrations and heartaches along the way, and being wise to that fact doesn't spare us the pain of difficulty.

'Lord our God, please give us the wisdom we need to live honouring lives to You. And please don't let us idolise wisdom. In Jesus' name, amen'