Sermons on Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 10:16–11:6
In Ecclesiastes 10:16–11:6, Solomon addresses the relationship between wisdom, leadership, diligence, and sloth, showing how personal character shapes not only individual lives but entire households, churches, and nations. His message is direct and searching: sloth, which flows from folly and self-indulgence, destroys kingdoms, while diligence, which flows from wisdom, preserves and builds what God has entrusted to us. The passage begins with a series of proverbs about kingship. A land is cursed when its leaders are immature, self-indulgent, and more…
Ecclesiastes 10:1–15
In Ecclesiastes 10:1–15, Solomon continues his extended meditation on wisdom by placing it side by side with folly and showing, in concrete and practical ways, that wisdom is far better than folly. Though wisdom is often overlooked and undervalued, folly is destructive, self-harming, and ultimately impossible to hide. Building on the previous passage, Solomon reminds us that wisdom is not merely intelligence or accumulated knowledge, but knowledge rightly applied to life under the fear of God. A person may be…
Ecclesiastes 9:11–18
In Ecclesiastes 9:11–18, Solomon confronts one of the great paradoxes of life under the sun: wisdom is of immeasurable value, yet it is often invisible, ignored, and forgotten. Outcomes in this world do not reliably reveal who is wise, righteous, strong, or favored. Time and chance disrupt our expectations, and even the wisest people may live and die unnoticed. Solomon begins by observing that success does not always correspond to ability. The swift do not always win the race, the…
Ecclesiastes 2:12-17
The Vanity of Wisdom and Folly “How the wise dies just like the fool!” In this sobering passage, Solomon considers whether wisdom—so highly prized by the world—can provide lasting meaning in life. He concedes that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. Yet both the wise and the foolish face the same end: death. Both are forgotten in time. So what lasting advantage is there to even the best-ordered life lived “under the sun”? This…
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
In this sermon, we examine Solomon’s sobering reflections on his pursuit of pleasure. With more power, wealth, and wisdom than any before him, Solomon conducted a thorough and honest experiment: Can meaning be found in laughter, luxury, wealth, work, or worldly delights? His conclusion is striking and clear—all is vanity and a striving after the wind. Solomon’s wisdom is not theoretical. He pursued every pleasure under the sun and found it all empty. This is a message deeply relevant to…
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:12–18, we explore the sobering conclusion of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived: even the pursuit of wisdom, apart from God, is vanity. Though many today still believe that knowledge, reason, or philosophy can solve the world’s deepest problems, Solomon exposes this as a “grasping for the wind.” 📖 Sermon Text: Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 “What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered… For in much wisdom is much grief,…
Proverbs 6:6-11
In Proverbs 6:6-11 Solomon speaks about the sin of laziness. Hard work is a virtue that Christians ought to strive for. Solomon explains how nature itself teaches this: the ant works hard to store up food even without anyone telling them they need to.
Proverbs 6:1-5
In Proverbs 6:1-5 Solomon speaks about the danger of putting up security for a stranger. The reason this is dangerous is because people are sinful. Belief in the general goodness of mankind is pervasive, but it is also wrong and leads to foolish decisions.
Proverbs 4:20-27
“Religion is mainly in the affections” (Richard Sibbes). God wants the heart. In Proverbs 4:20-27 Solomon tells his son to keep his heart above all else. Let your heart be reserved for God. You have been betrothed to one bridegroom, O Christian. Let your heart and everything else be devoted to God.
Proverbs 4:1-9
In Proverbs 4:1-9 Solomon shows that he learned wisdom from his father, David, and is passing this wisdom down to his son. Solomon shows by way of example that wisdom has a generational element to it. It is passed down through godly instruction in the home. Every Christian must seek to pass along this wisdom to the next generation in the home and in the church.
Proverbs 3:27-35
In Proverbs 3:27-35 Solomon gives general instructions for wisdom. Those who attain to true wisdom are also those who live godly lives. They are secure in walking on their paths through this life knowing God is with them. Ultimately, it is the wise who are righteous and who please God and are therefore blessed, whereas the foolish walk in wickedness and are cursed.
Proverbs 3:21-26
In Proverbs 3:21-26 Solomon shows the benefit of attaining wisdom: finding peace. Anxiety is rampant today. This is ultimately not a medical condition but a spiritual one. Peace is found by those who obtain wisdom. They are able to sleep soundly.
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