Hits me as kind of funny (funny weird, not funny ha-ha) for me to be critiquing a man to whom God gave “wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore”, whose “wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt — for he was wiser than all other men” (1Kings 4:29-31). And yet, as I hover over more meanderings in Solomon’s memoir, it occurs to me you can have the all the right answers and still be asking the wrong questions.

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.

(Ecclesiastes 2:13-14a ESV)

There is more gain in wisdom than in folly . . . Affirmative! You betcha! Yessir! Amen! Preach it!

I just finished a whole book making that point.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.

(Proverbs 3:13-14 ESV)

So, as I read the Preacher’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes 2:13 this morning I shaded it with my blue colored-pencil, my highlighting for Jesus. How come? ‘Cause Proverbs also says that “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth” (Prov. 3:19), and yesterday John me reminded that all things were made through Jesus — the Word who was in the beginning, the Word who was with God, the Word who was God (Jn. 1:1-3). Thus, wisdom is Jesus and Jesus is wisdom. And, like Solomon says, there is more gain in Jesus than in folly, for He is the light of the world (Jn. 8:12). Yes and amen! Right answer.

Yet, Solomon fails to ask the right question. Read on . . .

And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!

(Ecclesiastes 2:14b-16 ESV)

Why have I been so very wise . . . the wise dies just like the fool. Nope! The wise DO NOT die just like the fool! Oh, the curse of an under the sun view of life.

If what is most valued on this plant is a legacy of enduring remembrance, then yeah, wisdom — even wisdom that is Jesus — also is vanity. Paul agreed with that; “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1Cor. 15:19). But we’re not talking about this life only. For “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1Cor. 15:20). And if Jesus is the firstfruits, then for those who have gained Jesus, who have gained wisdom, we are the rest of the fruit. And thus under the sun is a temporary beginning not a final destination.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

(2Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV)

We are always of good courage . . . yes, we are of good courage. There will forever be more gain in wisdom than in folly. For at home in the body, our under the sun reality, will give way to at home with the Lord, our in heavenly places hope. What’s going on here and now is not vanity, it is preparatory.

We can have all the right answers but still bomb the question if we “are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mark 8:33). We can possess eternal life and yet live such temporary existences. We can one day inherit all things and yet live today as paupers with no hope.

Oh, for a mind set on things above. For a joy that is fed from things above.

Oh, to not only have the right answers, but to also be asking the right questions.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.