The Labor of the Foolish - Ecclesiastes 10:15

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “the words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?”, and in chapter ten and verse fifteen of his book Solomon said, “the labor of the foolish wearies every one of them” where we read,

The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.

The verse reads, “The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, …” Solomon began with the words, “the labor” or “the trouble, toil and work” “of the foolish” which means “belonging to the dullard, simpleton and stupid fellow” “wearies every one of them” or “labors, makes weary and exhausts each, all and the whole of people who are simpletons and foolish”. Solomon said the work of simpletons and dullards causes all of them to be exhausted. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… because he knows not how to go to the city.” Solomon continued with the words, “because he knows not” or “since and on account that he, the foolish person, does not perceive, see, find out, discern, distinguish or recognize”, “how to go” which means “in what way to walk, depart, be led and proceed” “to the city” or “toward the place of waking, guarded place or town”. Solomon said “foolish” people are so exhausted from their work that they are unable to walk and proceed toward to the town. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how work exhausts people who are simpletons and dullards, and the effects of their “labor” is so treacherous, they are unable to proceed toward their own town. We can imagine how they amplify the difficulty of their toil, and God does not want us to be this way. When He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead, He made the way through belief and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit so we commit to our labor in a manner that is not overly exhausting and always gives glory to Him. 

Next time Solomon says, “woe to you, O land, when your king is a child”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".