Ecclesiastes 1:18 says, “In much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” This is part of Solomon’s dissertation on the futility of life. The more we know about the world the more we learn of man’s inhumanity to man. The more we know about ourselves the more knowledgeable we become of our defects and natural depravity. If one is speaking of the end result of much education and study then Solomon is absolutely right. With knowledge comes despair because injustice and pain just keep on going.
However, it is imperative to say Solomon is not completely right and had he known Jesus he surely would have added an exception. To know Jesus is to know what God is really like. To know Jesus is to know there is hope for a better tomorrow. Not all tomorrows will be like all our yesterdays. The sun will not always come up and go down with the same wearisome effects. To know Jesus is to know that character growth and godliness contribute to a better eternity with God and it is not merely something that will decay in the ground with those who never bothered to better themselves.
Had Solomon known Jesus he most likely would have amended Ecclesiastes 1:18 to read something like this. “In most wisdom there is much grief, and he who increases worldly knowledge will increase sorrow. But he who learns much about Jesus will grow in wisdom and joy.”
Jesus was a game changer. He took the human experience and turned it from futility to purpose. Jesus showed us that life is full of pain but only for now because a richer, better, fuller future awaits those who grow in Him.
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 4, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org