CONSIDER WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Passage: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

Key verse: 14

NIV

Wisdom

7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(A)
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(C) is the destiny(D) of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(E)
    because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(F)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(G) of a wise person
    than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(H) under the pot,
    so is the laughter(I) of fools.
    This too is meaningless.

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
    and a bribe(J) corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience(K) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(L) in your spirit,
    for anger resides in the lap of fools.(M)

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(N) better than these?”
    For it is not wise to ask such questions.

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(O)
    and benefits those who see the sun.(P)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
    as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
    Wisdom preserves those who have it.

13 Consider what God has done:(Q)

Who can straighten
    what he has made crooked?(R)
14 When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.(S)
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

7 (A)A good name is better than precious ointment,
    and (B)the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
    than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
    and the living will (C)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
    (D)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (E)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
    than to hear the song of fools.
6 (F)For as the crackling of (G)thorns under a pot,
    so is the laughter of the fools;
    this also is vanity.[a]
7 Surely (H)oppression drives the wise into madness,
    and (I)a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
    and (J)the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 (K)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
    (L)for anger lodges in the heart[b] of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
    For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
    an advantage to those who (M)see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like (N)the protection of money,
    and the advantage of knowledge is that (O)wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider (P)the work of God:
    (Q)who can make straight what he has made crooked?

14 (R)In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, (S)so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

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Footnotes
  1. Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:9 Hebrew in the bosom
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

God has made both the good and bad times that we experience throughout life. We naturally desire happy times. Happiness and comfort can sometimes even become an idol. But bad times and difficulties are when we can acquire wisdom and have a proper perspective about God and our earthly life.

The wise understand that death, mourning, and fasting are all like bad-tasting medicine that is very good for our hearts. These bad times teach us about our mortality (2) and that we ultimately need God to save us from death. Frustration and rebuke are further opportunities to gain wisdom and to sober our hearts. The wise must also guard their hearts (7). The wise are encouraged to be patient, not easily provoked to anger, but to see a matter to the end for that is how the wise grow in wisdom. Although acquiring and growing in wisdom is hard, it preserves those who have it.

True wisdom and a sober heart lead us to God. When times are good, we are encouraged to be happy. But God has made bad times too. He is in control of both. As you experience bad times, turn your heart to God. You cannot foresee what God will do with it (14) but you can trust that God’s sovereign plan is working for your good (Ro 8:28).

Prayer: Father, thank you for good and bad times. Grow me in wisdom and faith in you.

One Word: God has made good and bad times