One experiment Solomon tried in his search for happiness and satisfaction was to turn to the pathway of knowledge. He must have taken months or even years to walk this pathway. He must have accumulated a huge library and talked with many brilliant learned men and women like the Magi from the East. Today he would have been awarded a Ph.D. over and over. There was probably no university then as we know it now in Jerusalem so he must have done all this by private study. His self-discipline and consistent application were remarkable. But again he faced the same "dead end". All that accumulated knowledge did not meet his need. The last verse of the chapter is almost tragic: It brings up the truth as in other passages in God's Word such as Psalm 111:10, "The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow His precepts have good understanding." Paul had much to say in 1 Corinthians 1 concerning the wisdom of this world. The Bible is in no way opposing education or higher learning but all the philosophy of the world cannot help mankind to know God. He is beginning at the wrong place who thinks the wisdom of this world can meet his eternal need. Paul's words spell this out clearly. Apparently worldly wisdom had crept into the church at Corinth and Paul was writing to set the matter straight. He wrote, "I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognise this message as the very power of God. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish..." (New Living Bible) The only way to salvation, satisfaction, and eternal life is through the cross of Christ. Have you taken your stand there? You need to do so-today. |
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