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"Why should you destroy yourself?"

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:16

PRUDENCE IN LIFE

What Solomon wrote here must be read very carefully. It must not be taken at face value.

“Do not be overly righteous,
Nor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?”
Ecclesiastes 7:16

1. “Do not be overly righteous”

a) Can anyone actually be “overly righteous”?

i) The simple answer is “No!”

ii) We cannot be righteous enough to please the Lord and honour Him.

b) What does it mean to be “overly righteous”?

i) It could be a reference to “external righteousness”.

ii) It could be a reference to “religious righteousness”.

c) What happens when one is “overly righteous”?

i) It is so-called righteousness.

ii) It is righteousness of the wrong kind.

iii) It may make one critical and judgmental.

iv) It could grate on the nerves of people who cannot stand “self-righteousness”.

v) Sometimes, it borders on being unkind and ungracious.

vi) It makes one intolerant of others.

vii) The danger is ending up being “radicalised”.

viii) This is warned against in this text.

d) When people are filled with this kind of “self-righteousness”

i) It makes people angry.

ii) And when people are angry, they retaliate.

iii) If the retaliation is strong and adverse it may lead to violence and death.

2. “Nor be overly wise”

a) Similar dangers exist for those who deem themselves wise and despise others.

b) They create much unnecessary tension among people.

c) Can anyone be truly “overly wise”?

d) The simple answer is No!

e) Self-opiniated people are not necessarily wise!

3. “Why should you destroy yourself?”

a) This must be read in the right context.

b) When people behave

i) As if they are more righteous.

ii) As if they are far wiser.

iii) They can cause so much anger, they may well perish if there should be a conflict.

4. True Righteous and true Wisdom

a) They must not cause one to despise another.

b) They must also not cause a person to feel haughty.

c) Let us pursue true righteousness and true wisdom.

d) The greatest example is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

He was altogether righteous and full of wisdom!