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“God Doesn't See Things The Way Man Does.”
Categories: Anger, Bible, Compromise, Covetous, Daily Living, Ecclesiastes, Envy, Expository Study, Foolish, God, Man, New Testament, Obedience, Old Testament, Pride, Proverbs, Psalms, Solomon, Spiritual Growth, Temptation, Truth, WisdomI Samuel 16:7 tells us that God does not see things the way man does (Ps. 139:2). There is no denying this fact if we know anything about the Bible and what it reveals about the mind of God. Today, instead of writing a long article detailing the teaching in these verses, I thought I would make a chart that contrasts God’s wisdom with man’s wisdom.
Please study the chart below. Note the contrasts between God’s wisdom and man’s, and then decide who you will follow.
God’s Wisdom | Man’s Wisdom |
A good name is better than riches (v. 1). | Riches are the most important thing -- better than one’s reputation. |
Our death day is better than our birthday (v. 1). | The day of death is the worst day of one’s life (with only a few exceptions, such as an incurable, painful disease). |
The house of mourning is better than the house of feasting (v. 2). | Feasting is better than mourning. |
Sorrow is better than laughter (v. 3). | Laughter is better than sorrow. |
Wise men are in the house of mourning (v. 4). | Wise men are in the house of mirth. |
It is better to hear the wise man’s rebuke (v. 5). | It is better to hear encouragement. |
The laughter of fools is as vain as expecting thorns to provide heat (v. 6). | The laughter of fools is to be desired. |
Accepting bribes will corrupt you (v. 7) | There is nothing wrong with getting money “under the table” from time to time. |
The end of a thing is better than the beginning (v. 8). | The beginning is better than the end. |
The patient is better than the proud (v. 8). | Being proud is better than being patient. |
Be slow to anger. Anger rests with the fools (v. 9; Jas. 1:19). | Becoming angry and “cracking heads” gets things done. |
Don’t live in the past (v. 10). | The “good ol’ days” are better than what we have today. |
This list from Ecclesiastes 7 teaches us much. Notice how these Bible facts from Ecclesiastes show that man’s ideas stand polar opposite to God’s intent. I find it interesting that the apostle Paul taught a very similar thing in I Corinthians 1:18-31 when he spoke of the preaching of the cross.
The ultimate question we must answer is: To whom will we listen? Will we listen to the world and follow “conventional wisdom” or listen to God and turn man’s wisdom on its head? Remember what David said about God’s wisdom (Ps. 119:98-100)? Listen to him! At the end of the day, we must decide for ourselves, and must face the consequences of that decision. As for me and my house, we want to listen to God. Who will you follow, friend?
- Jarrod M. Jacobs
