August 12, 2018

It’s generally assumed that the more you know, the more you can control the things that happen in your life. The idea is that if you get the right knowledge and know the right techniques, you can shape your life into what you want it to be. But the Preacher in Ecclesiastes shows us that this is playing pretend: as human beings, we don’t have access to enough knowledge to get control over life or create meaning for ourselves. But when we see God’s wisdom in the gospel, it shows us that we don’t need to use knowledge to grab control. God’s love teaches us that we can enjoy learning as humans beings, the way we were created to be.

Application Questions

1. How do you look at knowledge as a way to find meaning and success in your life? Are there ways you see yourself trying to “get into the control tower” in your life now?
2. What are some ways you’ve seen the inability of human wisdom to get control over life or bring lasting significance? Are there ways you’ve tried to hide those things under the wood chips?
3. How does Jesus show us true wisdom? How does the gospel free us to enjoy learning for learning’s sake, instead of trying to leverage it for our own gain?​

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