Ecclesiastes 8:1
Notice the question that Solomon begins with here as he asks, “Who is like the wise?” No one wrote more on the subject of wisdom and its practical benefits than Solomon did. He shows us here how true wisdom impacts a person. Who is like the wise? Who knows interpretation of a thing? The word “interpretation” comes from an Aramaic word that means solution. It refers to someone who sees through the mystery of something. The word suggests knowing how to explain difficult things, having the ability to unfold mysteries, understanding how to get to the foundation of things. It is the person who knows why things are as they are. This doesn’t mean that the one who has wisdom knows everything there is to know. It means he is able to exercise discernment because of his trust in God. Solomon refers to the ‘fear’ or the ‘work’ of God around ten times in Ecclesiastes chapters 7-8. It is a reminder that wisdom involves trusting in what you can’t see. Godly wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
The world tells us something different. Worldly wisdom involves doing what makes you happy, regardless of the consequences. We hear tidbits of advice like this: “Follow your heart! Go with your gut! Do whatever you want.” This is because the world promotes a selfish and self-centered way of living. Worldly wisdom begins with the individual.
True wisdom begins with a right relationship to God. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It comes by the way of the cross. A person must not be wise in his or her own eyes, something that the Bible frequently warns us against. Instead, we must look to God in faith and walk in the wisdom of His Word as we are led by His Spirit.
For more, read Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 3:5-6
