Ecclesiastes 10

Order of Service

• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Absurdity of Life and the Wisdom of Restraint

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10

I. The Destructive Nature of Folly

A. A single fool can corrupt much good, just as a dead fly spoils fine perfume (Ecclesiastes 10:1) B. The wise and the foolish are inclined in different directions; folly is visible even in the simplest tasks (Ecclesiastes 10:2-3)

1. The fool manifests his foolishness even in walking on the road
2. Folly is easy to see in others but difficult to see in oneself

II. The Frustrations of Governance and Occupational Hazard

A. Remaining calm in the face of a ruler's anger often resolves even great offenses (Ecclesiastes 10:4)

1. Contrast with the earlier counsel in Ecclesiastes 8 to leave the king's presence; wise people discern which response fits the situation
2. A gentle, calm response turns away wrath, consistent with Proverbs 15:1 B. Bad governance places fools in positions of authority rather than the wise and capable (Ecclesiastes 10:5-7)
3. This is called an evil under the sun — things are out of their proper place
4. Slaves on horses and princes walking on the ground illustrates the disorder C. Occupational hazards occur regardless of moral character (Ecclesiastes 10:8-9)
5. The inanimate objects — pits, serpents, stones, logs — do the harm, not the workers
6. Danger is not an excuse for negligence; wisdom must still be applied to labor D. Sharpening the iron illustrates the profit of wisdom in work (Ecclesiastes 10:10) E. The unpredictable serpent biting before being charmed illustrates that even the skilled worker can suffer through no fault of his own (Ecclesiastes 10:11)

III. The Words and Works of Fools

A. The wise are gracious in speech and build others up; the fool rants and unknowingly destroys himself (Ecclesiastes 10:12) B. The fool's speech begins badly and grows worse, ending in evil madness (Ecclesiastes 10:13) C. The fool boasts arrogantly about what he does not know, especially the future (Ecclesiastes 10:14)

1. This is the sixth time in Ecclesiastes the preacher states that no one knows the future
2. The preacher subtly jabs at himself for multiplying words on the very subject D. The fool's endless toil wearies him, yet he cannot manage even the simplest things, let alone knowledge of eternal matters (Ecclesiastes 10:15)

IV. Wise and Foolish Leadership

A. Woe to the land whose king is immature and whose princes feast in the morning before their work is done (Ecclesiastes 10:16) B. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble training and whose princes feast at the proper time and with self-control (Ecclesiastes 10:17)

1. The son of nobility has been trained from youth for the responsibilities of rule
2. Feasting is not condemned; feasting done rightly — after work and without drunkenness — is good C. Neglect and laziness cause both physical structures and governments to fall into disrepair (Ecclesiastes 10:18) D. Proper feasting is joyful and good; resources for it come from diligent stewardship (Ecclesiastes 10:19)

V. A Practical Warning About Speech Toward Authority

A. Do not curse or even think critically of the king or the powerful, for word travels fast (Ecclesiastes 10:20)

1. David's restraint toward Saul illustrates this principle — God appoints earthly authorities
2. This is countercultural wisdom, especially in an age that prizes outspoken criticism of leaders B. A wise person guards his thoughts and words about those in authority over him
3. The principle applies even at the practical level of daily life — not only as a matter of final accountability before God
4. Wisdom does not require blindness to wrongdoing, but it calls for measured and careful speech

VI. Summary: Live Wisely Without Demanding Guaranteed Outcomes

A. The chapter revisits themes from earlier in Ecclesiastes — the frustrations of folly, disordered governance, and the unpredictability of life B. Wisdom is worth pursuing and life should be ordered by it, but wisdom does not guarantee a specific outcome C. The appropriate response is confident trust in God combined with realistic expectations about life under the sun