Some years ago I read Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard’s Almanac, a compilation of Benjamin Franklin’s sayings, edited by comedian Steve Martin. Franklin is revered as one of America’s premier sages and humorists.
For me though, a little of Ben Franklin goes a long way. Yes, he has wisdom to share regarding the value of industriousness and frugality. And sometimes he quotes the Scriptures.
But he’s no King Solomon.
You’ll recall Solomon wrote most of the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
Solomon is taken to task by many Bible teachers who say Ecclesiastes reflects “Man under the sun” without God, and not the true view of God. I disagree and think such teachers are misguided. I’ll put my lot in with Solomon any day.
Why?
Because Solomon was inspired by God to write the things he did.
Solomon passes along a realistic view of the world and how it works. He wrote the good, the bad, and the ugly in his latter years to save us his readers from having to experience all of those things the way he did.
Instead of seeing what Solomon wrote as negative or contradictory to other Scriptures, let’s give him credit for standing in our shoes and viewing everything from a perspective we ought never to have to go through. Solomon realized all too late that he should have lived for God his whole life, not for only a part of it.
Let’s face it. Life sucks. This world is an unfriendly place to God and His children. I for one am glad the Bible doesn’t pull any punches.
I’m also very glad for the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit in combination with the word of God. It’s the only thing that gets me through day by day.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. – 2 Peter 1:19-21
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. – 1 Corinthians 15:19