Is the BIBLe Against Higher Learning?

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. As a great leader and King God granted him the privilege of asking for anything that he wanted. Solomon did not ask for riches; he asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. As the Bible records, God did grant him much wisdom, but He also granted him magnificent wealth.

Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Song of Solomon are testimony to Solomon’s ability to use his discretion to make astute judgments and deliver many wise sayings. But my piece today deals with an excerpt from one of his writings:

Ecclesiastes 12:12

“Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

This is the man who asked for wisdom, set himself to study all manner of learnings, yet he shares with us that much learning wearies the mind. It seems like an about turn. Well, actually it is not.

Solomon’s reference to “much learning” is not a criticism of someone spending large amounts of time in God’s word to expand one’s knowledge of Christ and a fuller understanding of God’s purpose for one’s life, or even a person pursuing higher education. He was actually speaking about the uselessness of having much without Jesus in the mix.

How do I know this to be true? Solomon outlined all that he acquired to bring him happiness. It included gardens, orchards, great works of art, male servants, female servants, vineyards, pools, silver, gold, music bands, and the list goes on and on. He even said:

“Whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them…”

But at the end of his acquisitions, what he thought would bring him so much joy, led to “vanity and vexation of spirit”. He kept acquiring more and more possessions, but the end feeling was the same: “vanity and vexation of spirit”. They were end in themselves. Once he got the material goods, he soon realized all too well that the joy they brought him was temporary, so very fleeting.

At the end of his treatise, what did he conclude?

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 (NKJ):

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Solomon recognized that as much education and learning and material assets that one could obtain, serving God must be a person’s priority, otherwise, everything else is “vanity and vexation of spirit”. The whole of man’s life must be reverence and obedience to god, for to Him at last one must give full account.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE MISTAKE?

What Happens after the Mistake?

The Bible is filled with accounts of people who made mistakes, realized it only after the fact and then repented. From Eve listening to the serpent, eating the forbidden fruit and sharing it with her husband, Adam, and their eventual banishment from Eden, we have Samson telling Delilah the source of his strength, and then being defeated by the Philistines, who dug out his eyes and made him a slave. 

Who can forget that momentous decision of David to enter into an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and then setting a murderous trap for her spouse, Uriah?

It’s all there for us to read, to learn, to warn us away from committing sometimes fatal errors. But we are human beings, and making mistakes is part of our sinful nature inherited from our first parents.

But what happens after I make a mistake? What does God have to say?

We read in Romans 5:20 (New Living Translation):

"God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace (undeserved favour)became more abundant."

When I realize that I have committed a grave error, part of me feels like God is just waiting to call me out. I feel like there’s this big judgment that is going to fall upon me, because I could imagine God saying, “I told you so!”

But God’s gracious love and endearing grace reaches me wherever I am. We are called to confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Of course, the enemy just waits to regale us with condemnation, and even though we are forgiven, the sting of regret still hurts.

When we make a mistake, big or small, God gives us support in any situation we have caused. The consequences of some mistakes are short lived, but some can be lifelong. Some mistakes have consequences we cannot avoid, that is true. 

But God’s grace is outpoured in every event. Our enemy will try to make things worse, but our Saviour embraces us.

Christ calls us to forgiveness, healing, comfort and wholeness in the midst of sometimes obvious sadness, and He does make a way in the middle of the tears of regret. 

Should I go to church?

Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) reminds us:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching…

which means simply that we ought to go to church regularly, especially as we know that we are in the last days. But why is church attendance so important really?

I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over twenty-five years, and during that time my membership has spanned three main churches: San Juan Evangelical, where I got married and my children were christened; the Wesleyan Holiness Church, when I moved into our home in Chaguanas, and presently I attend the Oasis of Love Open Bible Church. 

Of course, I’ve missed church sometimes over the years, but when I did, I made a keen observation. Whenever I do not go to service, let’s say for about three Sundays, I became more and more critical of things at my church: the pastor, some member, how some situation was handled, something about the worship team. It was as if standing afar off made it into a “me and them” phenomenon. And it happened every time. But when I start back going again, I just do not see the “flaws” in my brethren or my pastor. As a matter of fact, I become less critical of everyone and everything going on in the congregation.

I talked to God about this and He led me to read the verse which precedes the instruction to not forsake going to church, which is further emphasized in verse 26. We are encouraged:

Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. 

It means when I stay away from fellowshipping with my fellow church members, it gives chances for the devil to bring all kinds of thoughts to my mind, and instead of inspiring those around me with encouraging words and actions, the opposite happens. I harbour negative thoughts, which leads to negative actions, which causes a break in the fellowship, and I then see my brothers and sisters in Christ through a lens of criticism instead of through lenses of love.

If I miss church more often than is absolutely necessary, because of illness, work or other real reasons, it breeds disharmony and I become less effective at being a blessing and building up the body of Christ as we are called to do.

Will you have a snack today?

Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) reminds us:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching…

which means simply that we ought to go to church regularly, especially as we know that we are in the last days. But why is church attendance so important really?

I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over twenty-five years, and during that time my membership has spanned three main churches: San Juan Evangelical, where I got married and my children were christened; the Wesleyan Holiness Church, when I moved into our home in Chaguanas, and presently I attend the Oasis of Love Open Bible Church. 

Of course, I’ve missed church sometimes over the years, but when I did, I made a keen observation. Whenever I do not go to service, let’s say for about three Sundays, I became more and more critical of things at my church: the pastor, some member, how some situation was handled, something about the worship team. It was as if standing afar off made it into a “me and them” phenomenon. And it happened every time. But when I start back going again, I just do not see the “flaws” in my brethren or my pastor. As a matter of fact, I become less critical of everyone and everything going on in the congregation.

I talked to God about this and He led me to read the verse which precedes the instruction to not forsake going to church, which is further emphasized in verse 26. We are encouraged:

Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. It means when I stay away from fellowshipping with my fellow church members, it gives chances for the devil to bring all kinds of thoughts to my mind, and instead of inspiring those around me with encouraging words and actions, the opposite happens. I harbour negative thoughts, which leads to negative actions, which causes a break in the fellowship, and I then see my brothers and sisters in Christ through a lens of criticism instead of through lenses of love.

If I miss church more often than is absolutely necessary, it breeds disharmony and I become less effective at being a blessing and building up the body of Christ as we are called to do.

Will you have a snack today?