More About Foolishness 
 

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20.

Memory Verse: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Ecclesiastes 9:4).

INTRODUCTION: One tribe of Ishmaelites is made up of highflying ignoramuses who are very mighty about the doctrine of a sermon--they are as decisive as sledge-hammers and as certain as death. He who knows nothing is confident in everything; hence they are bullheaded beyond measure. Every clock, and even the sundial, must be set according to their watches; and the slightest difference from their opinion proves a man to be rotten at heart. Venture to argue with them, and their little pot boils over in quick style; ask them for reason, and you might as well go to a sand-pit for sugar. They have bottled up the sea of truth, and carry it in their waistcoat pockets; they have measured heaven's line of grace, and have tied a knot in a string at the exact length of electing love; and as for the things which angels long to know, they have seen them all as boys see sights in a peepshow at our fair. Having sold their modesty and become wiser than their teachers, they ride a very high horse, and jump over all five-barred gates of Bible-texts which teach doctrines contrary to their notions.
  When this mischief happens to good men, it is a great pity for such sweet pots of ointment to be spoiled by flies. yet one learns to bear with them just as I do with old Violet, for he is a rare horse, though he does set his ears back and throw out his legs at times. But there is a black bragging lot about, who are all sting and no honey; all whip and no hay; all grunt and no meat. These do nothing but rail from morning to night at all who cannot see through their spectacles. If they would but mix up a handful of good living with all their bushels of bounce, it would be more bearable; but no, they don't care for such legality; men so sound as they are can't be expected to be good at anything else; they are the heavenly watch-dogs to guard the house of the Lord from those thieves and robbers who don't preach sound doctrine, and if they do worry the sheep, or steal a rabbit or two by the sly, who would have the heart to blame them? (written by Charles H. Spurgeon)
(Taken from Thomas Nelson, Inc., Heritage of Great Evangelical Teaching: Featuring the best of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon and others [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.)

LESSON QUESTIONS:

1. How much foolishness is required in a respected man's life to bring his honor into question? Eccl. 10:1; 1 Kings 15:5; Jas. 2:10; Song of Sol. 2:15; 1 Cor. 5:6; 1 Thess. 5:22.

2. Discuss the contrast the preacher makes between the heart of the wise and the heart of the fool. Eccl. 10:2,3.
Note: In the Bible, the right hand is the place of honor, while the left hand is a place less honorable. In this case, the wise man shows forth an honorable heart in all he does, while the foolish prove their heart to be "dishonorable" in their activities.

3. What is the preacher's counsel for times when men come into conflict with authorities? Eccl. 10:4; Prov. 15:18; 16:14; Jas. 1:2-4.

4. Is it fairly common for leaders to take inappropriate action, and to make improper decisions? Eccl. 10:5-7; Prov. 29:2; 11:10,11; 28:15; Isa. 3:14; 10:1-4; Ezek. 22:27; Mic. 7:3.

5. Is it ever necessary to disobey authorities? Acts 4:13-22; Dan. 3:13-19; 1 Sam. 15:24-29; Neh. 5:7; Gen. 1:22-2:3.

6. What is most likely to happen if we try to snare others, or put our noses into things where they don't belong, or try to tear something down that is faulty when we aren't prepared to build something better, or we try to build when we're ill prepared? Eccl. 10:8-10; Prov. 1:17-19; Job 18:5-10; Ps. 69:21,22; 1 Thess. 5:13; Prov. 11:13; 18:8; Ps. 101:5; Prov. 13:3; Luke 14:28-32.

7. How damaging can words be from one who blurts out anything? Eccl. 10:11; Jas. 3:6; Ps. 52:1-5; 57:4; 64:1-6; 109:1-5; Prov. 12:18; 18:21.

8. Discuss the contrast the preacher gives between a wise man's ways and those of a fool. Eccl. 10:12-15.

9. Why is it essential that a leader be temperate? Eccl. 10:16,17; Prov. 21:17; Dan. 1:8; Prov. 16:32; 25:28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7.

10. What further observations are made concerning laziness, money, and dishonoring rulers? Eccl. 10:18-20.