Ecclesiastes 7:11-12: Wisdom has great value 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. 12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Ecclesiastes 7:14-20: But wisdom seems to have limits Limit #1 - The wise don’t always thrive and have long life. Ecclesiastes 7:14: 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Ecclesiastes 7:14-20: But wisdom seems to have limits Limit #1 - The wise don’t always thrive and have long life. Ecclesiastes 7:15: 15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 

Ecclesiastes 7:14-20: But wisdom seems to have limits Limit #1 - The wise don’t always thrive and have long life. Ecclesiastes 7:16-18: 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Ecclesiastes 7:14-20: But wisdom seems to have limits Limit #2 – We fail to be consistently wise or righteous. Ecclesiastes 7:19-20: 19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Ecclesiastes 7:23-24: Real wisdom is beyond our grasp Ecclesiastes 7:23-24: 23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom Ecclesiastes 7:25: 25 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom In God’s wisdom, he sent Christ to be a faithful co-sufferer. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24: Paul preaches “Christ crucified” which he describes as “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” This crucified Christ is familiar with life’s futilities!

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom 2. In God’s wisdom, he sent Christ to graciously provide eternal life and flourishing to the unrighteous. Ecclesiastes 7:20: 20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom 2. In God’s wisdom, he sent Christ to graciously provide eternal life and flourishing to the unrighteous. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31: 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-25: Finding refuge in God’s higher wisdom 3. In God’s wisdom, he brings meaning, redemption, and good out of moments of futility. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24: 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.