"Poor, Wise Man"

December 1, 2011

“Poor, Wise Man”

Blessings Folk!!

I am struck today by the following passage. Read carefully. Of course the context is important. Check out the fuller passage if you have time Ecclesiastes 9.

Ecclesiastes 9

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

The author had observed in his life that…

  • the race is not to the swift
  • the battle to the strong
  • neither yet bread to the wise
  • nor yet riches to men of understanding
  • nor favor to men of skill
  • but, time and chance happen to all

A couple of “big picture” thoughts are envisioned here.

Things happen to all people.

We are to press on.
We are to not trust in that which the world thinks as important.

An example is given.
A small city was besieged by a powerful king.

The city was delivered by a poor, wise man.

We know nothing of the balance of the situation, circumstance nor story.

But the truth is proclaimed.

Wisdom is better than strength.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war.

Yet, the poor man’s wisdom is despised.

The world considers not the poor.
The world looks for wisdom in the flash and credentials of man.

I believe that the Lord is raising a might army of the poor that are wise for such a time as this...an evil time as it says in verse 12.

What are you pursuing?
Are you seeking the stuff of the world, or are you seeking the wisdom of God?
Stuff will not save.
Wisdom will do amazing things.
Wisdom is required today...even more so in the days to come.

The world will flounder and fail in their wisdom.

But...

Daniel 11

32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries:
but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Daniel 12

3
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.


We are in a season of preparation.
Are you preparing?

Preparation for living and manifesting the wisdom of the Lord will not be found in the strategies and plans of man - especially within the “organization of the church”.

Preparation lies within…

  • the organism of the true Body of Christ
  • the Word of God
  • the Spirit of God

True Believers will not be “snared in an evil time”.
We will shine as the stars…
We will lead many to righteousness…

Prepare.

Remember…

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Quietly speak forth the wisdom of the Lord…
Amid the clamoring cry of rulers among the fools…

Blessings!