There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.<\/p>\n
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Anyone who’s watched government in action can attest to the first part of that, but what of the second? Salves on horses, princes on the ground? What prince walks when he can ride or be driven, what slave can get a place on a horse?
\nThe prince that doesn’t know he’s a prince and the slave who doesn’t understand that he’s imprisoned. I see many who think they are something when in reality they are slaves – slaves to their image, to their lifestyle, to their sin, to peer pressure. Others, who live in freedom and who are princes, sons of the king, live as if they were nothing, slaves, trapped, imprisoned. the have no confidence, no faith in their worth, even though they were bought at a price. Neither understands who they are.
\nOf course, I’m talking about those who are Christians and who are not. So many outside the church think of themselves as something when they are not and many inside have been given everything including Jesus and can’t see it. When the world beats you down, and everything around you points to your worthlessness, it can be hard to see the invisible God who bought you at such a high price. I think we can all do more to lift each other’s head to Jesus when the world beats us down.
\nThere is a lot of wisdom in the remaining verses. Most have a practical application as well as layers of deeper meaning if you meditate on them for a while. Frankly, it can be easy to skim over them and miss the deeper meaning. Some of my favorites from Ecclesiastes 10:<\/p>\n
10<\/strong> If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
\nhe must use more strength,
\nbut wisdom helps one to succeed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWork smarter, not harder. Solomon thought of that one first too.<\/p>\n
11<\/strong> If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
\nthere is no advantage to the charmer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThat one made em smile, but then I thought about how many people get bitten by the metaphorical snakes they try to charm.<\/p>\n
18<\/strong> Through sloth the roof sinks in,
\nand through indolence the house leaks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAh, the joys of home ownership.<\/p>\n
20<\/strong> Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
\nnor in your bedroom curse the rich,
\nfor a bird of the air will carry your voice,
\nor some winged creature tell the matter.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n“Even in your thoughts …” That’s a high standard, but the truth is we cannot think that we can curse someone in our thoughts and have it not come through in our actions and attitudes. Besides, God judges us on our hearts, and the way you are in private is a better reflection of who you are inside than what you do in public. Think about that the next time you’re alone in the car, in a hurry and in slow traffic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Like a chapter that would be at home in Proverbs, Solomon here notes the benefits of wisdom and the power of folly. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give offRead More Ecclesiastes 10 – Wisdom and Folly<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nEcclesiastes 10 - Wisdom and Folly - salguod.net<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2009\/01\/ecclesiastes_10_-_wisdom_and_folly.shtml\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ecclesiastes 10 - Wisdom and Folly - salguod.net\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Like a chapter that would be at home in Proverbs, Solomon here notes the benefits of wisdom and the power of folly. 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Good thing and bad things happen to everyone, there is no rhyme or reason. The good have evil befall them and the evil have good events. It's random, not related to our own behavior. The rain falls\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quiet Time Journal"","block_context":{"text":"Quiet Time Journal","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/quiet-time-journal"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":885,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2008\/12\/ecclesiastes_5_-_fear_god_the_vanity_of_wealth.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":896,"position":1},"title":"Ecclesiastes 5 – Fear God, the Vanity of Wealth","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"December 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quiet Time Journal"","block_context":{"text":"Quiet Time Journal","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/quiet-time-journal"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":870,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2008\/11\/ecclesiastes_2_-_joy_in_work.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":896,"position":2},"title":"Ecclesiastes 2 – Joy in Work","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"November 3, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 - Who hasn't, at some time or another, thought that just a little more income or even just a one time windfall, would make our lives so much better. I know I do. 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