Vanity of Vanities...

"Vanity of vanities. All is vanity." So, I had a revelation the other day. Many times in Ecclesiastes, Solomon sounds like he's saying that wisdom is useless, or that wisdom is "vanity." But then you hear many other verses praising wisdom. "In her right hand she holds riches and honor, and in her left, long life." It makes you wonder, what was Solomon thinking?? But I realized, Solomon was wiser than us all.(who knew?) When he was saying that having wisdom is like grasping for the wind, he was not saying that wisdom is vain. Later, he goes on to say, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." What he's saying is, it is good to be smart and intelligent, to be wise and discerning. We must think before we speak. We must think before we act. It is good to desire wisdom and to "search for her as hidden treasure." The message Solomon was trying to get across is that it is silly to try to uncover all the mysteries of life. It is useless to go deep into philosophy. In the long run, where is that going to get you? We can never comprehend all the mysteries of God. We will never know all his plans and purposes. Even scientists do not know everything. God is a mystery. Yes, be wise and intelligent and discerning. But don't let it get to your head. Wisdom give life to those who have it, but love is even greater. The whole thing may sound like a contradiction. Sometimes it can be hard to put something that deep and confusing onto paper. All I'm trying to say is, be wise, but don't set your heart to know all wisdom for "in much wisdom is much grief." "Though I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but have not love, I am nothing." Everything comes back to love.