Introduction
King Solomon is known for being both wise and rich. The kingdom of Israel prospered, expanded, and was at peace during most of his reign. Legends grew up around his abilities and the long reach of his empire. Books, movies, and treasure hunters have speculated on where he got the vast amounts of gold he used to decorate and furnish the Temple and his own palace. Some have sought to find the cache of hidden gold left behind after his death but before the plundering of the Jerusalem in general and more specifically the plundering of the Temple by pagan conquerors.
I don’t know if there ever was a hidden cache of golden treasure, and I don’t know if he ever really had a secret gold mine somewhere in Africa, but I do believe he left us a different kind of gold mine; and he left it in plain sight.
Gold mines seldom have only one shaft, though they do sometimes have a single entrance leading to multiple shafts. Another thing about gold mines; they contain not just gold, but various types of minerals and deposits. The shaft must go around or through these other deposits to reach the vein of gold the miner seeking.
I’d like to enter the gold mine Solomon left us and examine the various deposits he left for us to find. The entrance to this gold mine is the Original (old) Testament of our Bible and the two mine shafts are Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. There’s a third mine shaft, Song of Solomon, but I’ll leave that for married couples to explore another time. There are many kinds of treasures hidden in each of these shafts, but we’ll pick our way around most of those deposits to get to the gold nuggets we’re looking for today.
Ecclesiastes
Too often we ignore Ecclesiastes because we feel it is too depressing; too much of a downer. We can almost hear Eeyore, that gloomy blue-gray donkey from Winnie the Pooh whose tail keeps falling off” speaking Solomon’s lines from chapter 1 verse 2:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
But the teacher, Solomon, wasn’t just being a “poor-me” Eeyore, he was making a point: In comparison to eternity and what waits for us there when we will see our Lord face to face; everything else is fleeting and inconsequential.
The teacher attempts to open our eyes and to teach us a new way of looking at those things we think are so important and precious; and then enlightens us to the really important things that are always before us.
He begins in chapters 1 and 2 by telling us that wisdom is not an end to itself. In 1:18 he says:
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
This is not to say we should ignore opportunities for education or to gain wisdom. But how do we use these things? Do we use them at all, or do they merely puff us up?
Also, work should not consume us. Solomon speaks about our putting too much emphasis on our jobs or the desire to get ahead, and justifying those attitudes to accumulate many things. In 2:21, Solomon says:
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it.
Don’t misunderstand, I don’t believe he means we should be lazy or that we shouldn’t attempt to leave an inheritance for our children, but I do believe he means that work and accumulation are not and end to themselves. Whatever we accumulate in our lives will someday belong to others. We will have no say in what they do or don’t do with those things. And contrary to what the popular bumper says, he who dies with the most toys does not win. So what do we hope to accomplish with the things we accumulate? Is there a real purpose to our accumulation?
Jumping ahead to chapter 5, Solomon warns us of another common problem; making hasty promises to God. We’ve probably all done something like this when we were in trouble. We come to God on our knees pleading “God, if you’ll only do this or that for me or my family, I promise I’ll….” Then later we find it fairly easy to break our promise. Beginning in verse 2 he says:
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
He then gives us the better approach for coming before God when he says in verse 7:
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God
Solomon continues in 5:10 by examining the foolishness of grasping after wealth.
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
Going back to chapter 3 we get one portions of Solomon’s text that most people have heard. It’s been quoted (and misquoted) and used in songs. This is where he speaks of the need for balance in our lives. Eccl. 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace
The Teacher implores us to remember that our lives are not made up of any one thing. If we get stalled on one preoccupation or one mood, or one feeling; we loose the chance to take part in all the rest that God has for us. God filled us with a range of emotions and abilities. If we put too much emphasis on any one of them, it is to the detriment of the others. It keeps us from seeing what God is doing around us and keeps us from participating in what he has for us.
In chapter 4, Solomon explores life of the downtrodden and the oppressed and those without friends and notes the importance of having good friends to support you in times of trouble. Beginning in verse 9 he says:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Have we spent the time needed to develop the relationships we will need to sustain us during times of trouble? If we’re so busy and so preoccupied with things that we fail to spend time with those around us; we will become a single cord, easily broken when trouble comes.
He continues in Chapter 5 verses 18-20 with a prescription for happiness no matter what our circumstances:
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
There are many more gold nuggets of wisdom in the mine shaft of Ecclesiastes, but for today let’s go to the Solomon’s summary of how to live life: Chapter 12:13-14.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Proverbs
Now let us take a very brief look into that second mine shaft, that of the Book of Proverbs. We don’t avoid reading Proverbs for the same reason we avoid Ecclesiastes. Proverbs isn’t all gloomy and depressing to us, but it has a scattered, disorganized feel to us. It feels like a young student’s first school paper where every thought that pops into their head is scrawled down in chaotic fashion.
Admittedly some of Proverbs is not as organized, or at least not organized the way many of us would like. Yet careful study does reveal threads of purpose woven through out its course. I suspect that if you disregard the chapter and verse numbers (there weren’t any in the original) you too will begin to find a more organized thought pattern than you originally detected. But regardless of what you think of its organization, there are many treasures for your life to be found hidden here. Let’s descend into this mine shaft of not only gold nuggets, but silver, diamonds, rubies, and other jewels.
Solomon tells us right up front why he writes this book. Prov. 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Let’s begin by looking at one of his many warning and admonishments to young adults. Beginning at chap 1:8
Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.
If you have a problem turning loose of a tithe to God, listen to what Solomon says. Chap 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Here’s a bit of wisdom for those of us who like movie, music, and sports stars and may sometimes day dream of being like them. Prov. 3:31-35
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.
In many places in Proverbs, Solomon gives us a concise list of things we need to avoid, for says they are detestable to God. We’ll look at one of them in Chap 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers
Chapter 11 is full of contrasts between the righteous and the unrighteous. It points out that God sees and rewards each of us according to our actions.
Honesty 11:1 & 3
The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Pride 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
This thought continues in Chapter 12
Life and Reputation 12:3, 7
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
Summary
God has preserved the bible for us throughout a history filled with those who wanted it destroyed. He saw to it that we had instruction from that wisest of earthly kings, Solomon. Between the twin books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Solomon addresses pretty much every sin and evil desire known to man. He points out what is wrong with them and he points out what happens to those who choose to take part in them anyway. Are you prone to gossip, drunkenness (including drug induced), lying or telling falsehoods? Do you have a secret problem with lust, marital unfaithfulness, or rage; or how about envy, desire for power in your job or organization? Do you disrespect your parents, your boss, or others God has placed in authority over you? Do you have to constantly guard yourself against being lazy? Solomon addresses all of these things.
Bibles containing abound in homes across America, so we are without excuse if we don’t understand the terrible consequences of living unrighteous lives. We can ignore the wisdom God sets before us and believe whatever the world tells us, or we can consider our lives in the light of the Bible. In Prov. 14:15 King Solomon says:
A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
If the spirit was nagging at you as we examined these scriptures, perhaps it’s time to give some thought to your steps. What path have you chosen? Have you even consciously chosen a path, or has your life wandered without much meaning? Did you recognize yourself in some of the failings Solomon told us to avoid?
We are so blessed to have a creator who desires to reconcile with us no matter how far off the path our lives have wandered. We are blessed to have a sustainer who wants to steer us out of the disaster some of us have made of our lives, or the hum-drum blah-ness others of us have fallen into. We have a God who recognized before the world began that each of us would sin and thus deserve death rather than life in heaven. This same God prepared himself to become the sacrifice to pay that death penalty for each of us, BEFORE any of us were even born. He wants us to accept that payment and join him in a life that has meaning and fulfillment; a life that will conclude with our joining him in heaven forever! He wants to help us live righteous lives that count for something. He wants to bless us with all that we need and shower us with love that doesn’t stop when we fail or are less than perfect.
How do we get past our past? How do we begin anew? Where do we start? Some folks in the New Testament asked those kind of questions when they were presented with the gospel of Jesus. Acts 2:37-41
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
What if we’ve taken that 1st step sometime in the past, but have not really been attempting to living a righteous life? That’s a really great thing about our God, He’s ready to forgive us and help us start again when we’re ready. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Are you ready?