Life is a series of contradictions In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Ecclesiastes 7:15

Living wisely in a paradoxical world Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

“Innocent as a dove, wise as a serpent.” Wisdom /Righteousness “Innocent as a dove, wise as a serpent.”

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool- why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other, The man who fears God will avoid all extremes Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool- why die before your time? 16 17

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-why destroy yourself? 7:16 The temptation of being righteous in an unrighteous world is to belief that your righteousness earns you a longer and more prosperous life.

Extreme righteousness centres on self. A righteousness stemming from self centred confidence A righteousness stemming from deep centred insecurity

Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool- why die before your time

Finding balance from both extremes “Do not be overrighteous…..Do not be overwicked……the man who fears God will avoid all extremes….It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other” 7:16-18

Find balance from extremes in the Gospel Overrighteous Overwicked

Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. Do not pay attention to every word people say, Or you may hear your servant cursing you- For you know in your heart, that many times you yourself have cursed others. 7:16-22

Wisdom in a paradoxical life The paradox of being righteous in an unrighteous world. The paradox of trying to know everything but not knowing yourself.

The Gospel requires you to know yourself to know God

To allow God to change us we must be deeply aware of what motivates our actions

FLIGHT FIGHT Know yourself

So I turned my mind to understand, To investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things And to understand the stupidity of wickedness And to understand the madness of folly. 7:25

1)There are limits of trying to understand everything that happens to you All this I tested by wisdom and I said, “I am determined to be wise”- but this was beyond me. Whatever exists is far off and most profound- Who can discover it? …while I was still searching but not finding 7:23-24,28

2) Sin subtly ensnares without us realizing it ..and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare. 7:25-26

While I was still searching But not finding- I found one upright man among a thousand, But not one upright woman among them all 7:28-29

3) Our plans in life often do not include God This only have I found: God created mankind upright but they have have gone in search of many schemes 7:28-29

Wisdom in a paradoxical life The paradox of being righteous in an unrighteous world. The paradox of trying to know everything but not knowing yourself. The paradox of searching for God but wanting to be your own God.

Going to God to avoid God

I want to know Christ and the fellowship of his power……Phil 3:10 Not that I have already obtained all this….but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Phil 3:12

The ultimate paradox: God dying for man