James & Ecclesiastes - What is Wisdom?

"...spiritual wisdom and understanding..." Amen!

Yes, to test.see and be new in love with Father and Son, then in. love to all, yes even those you have problems with loving, being the ones that harmed you. What about those we harmed before getting born again? What about those that harm others that claim they are born again using that as an excuse. You see it, you tell them of it and they reply with "I" am forgiven, having no accountability. I, in past am guilty of that, yet God has forgiven it anyways, thank you Father. I see to be accountable to my guilt and learn new from my mistakes made. I need God, for me to not use it to get away with anything doing any wrong to anyone else. Then there are those telling you you are doing wrong. I ask what am I doing wrong? You not going to Church, at least my Church, or are not water Baptized in my Church or any Church building.
Religion creates An "Obsessive Compulsory Behavior". Now for me in Religion, I was made a worse sinner that was already prior to joining in that religion, years ago. Oh yes they preach Christ as the savior, is risen and you better do it or else., so I was caught up under Law, this Put me under Law to do it. I got bad at it, so bad I became indescribably depressed. I finally saw what Paul talks about when put under Law, (Romans 7) how sin revives and makes one worse than when we're not under Law, even though still sinned. Law was put in place to make us aware of our need for God to lead not me at least not me now.
I had a choice at the end of that trying to do Law, I saw I can't do it perfect ever.
I was in thought to leave it and not be a believer in God or continue to believe God above it all, no matter what I was going through, seeing "God loves us all" I stand in belief to God, Son is risen where I am forgiven in his one time willing death for me and all others as well, that is done (John 19:30)

Now I uphold the Law as good (Romans 3:31), yet not to rule me, what? To see I need God as perfect to lead in Father's Spirit, the Holy Spirit in love to all, through me, so I can rest medicine
That is the call to me y'all Love all, yes even the enemies of God. God did, does by Son who went to that cross willingly, our turn you think?
"The Art of fighting without fighting" I see "I" can not get anyone to love me, without taking away their free will , can anyone else?
Now see what God has done for us all by Son to us all, and did not take away free will. Left all with the free choice to choose God, self coupled with evil within that frame, evil is just Evil, So choose who, what has the reins in your life here on earth? If you do not choose Love as true Love which is explained in 1 Cor 13 to me verses 4-7, 13
I trust God to impute that love in. me and you'll too, Ask, receive and see thank you

Temptations are everywhere. Even as Christians (or at least this Christian), there are many forbidden fruits out there that tempt us. While they may be visually appealing or sweet to the taste, they become as bitter as wormwood and can easily ensnare us and lead us away from God. The further we are away from our protective source, the more deeply we can get sucked under by the quicksands of sin.

At least for me, I need to spend quality with God's Word listening and being inspired by Him. Then, I need to talk and walk with Him throughout the day to stay away from the alluring seductions that are right at our fingertips in this digital Babylon we live within. I was talking with a friend of mine last night about some tough times he is going through at work, and we both concluded that we need to continue fighting the good fight and have God's armor firmly in place when battles come our way (Eph. 6: 10-20).

James 1:12-15

New King James Version

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Endurance is part of our Christian walk whether we like it or not. Jesus said that "...he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24: 13). And, the only way I am able to to endure and resist temptation is staying close to Christ. My flesh is too weak and even though I know it's harmful and wrong, I am still "tempted by evil."

As James emphasizes, this is not God's fault. Nor, does he throw the devil and this sinful society into the equation. The focus is on us, and my corrupt nature is my biggest enemy by far. Desire and enticement can draw me away so easily. Seeking forgiveness and pursuing repentance is the only way out of the quagmire for me when I succumb to temptation.

You are growing and seeing new from Father for you in the risen Son Jesus to you
Father and risen Son have entered in you as Won for you. You no longer need anyone else or self to teach you?
What?????????????????? Of coarse I need to ask for more forgiveness when I sin? Really, I just sinned again, I need to get forgiven again! do I not?
that is what we as people are getting taught to do, that is taught by people, not God for you?
What?

Not from Daddy's, Papa's view, that got done through Son, once for everyone by the willing one-time death of Son Jesus willingly done once for us all, We all got reconciled as Forgiven forever from God Father, that is done by Son John 19:30 It is finished
To be given the new life in the risen Son from Father, Daddy, PaPa, believe, receive, and see, stop being in fear. (1 John 4:18) Which is keeping you from the freedom God gives in risen Son for you to just love, having no more conscience of sin ever again (Hebrews 10). see the truth Sin takes occasion by the command, one then sins again, all the more (Romans 7). That is the way of evil, to keep people captive and not be able to love in truth given them to love, getting people to be busy to not sin, causes anyone to sin over and over again, this traps people and is trapping you. Some, many excuse this, others see it and then walk away from having a conscience of sin and are new (Hebrews 10) getting them purged from the consciousness of sin
God does this, teaches us new, not anyone else, not even me, thank you see Phil 1:6
Authorized (King James) Version
2 Cor 5:17-20 I crossed out the If, put in since, which is the correct interpolation from the Greek Text. If is doubt, that keeps people from full belief for them from God to them in risen Son for them
Therefore if,(since) any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Please, see as I trust Father to reveal the truth to you, to be freed from guilt and pride going on in you under Law as has been going on.
Stop! under Law, the I have to, I didn't I can't to upholding the Law as good for you to trust Father to do that through you in God's Love and mercy for you
As I know you already know this, just trying. to work it out and I know you will between Father, Son and you

Oh yes you can and only by Father in risen Son is this done for you to have a new focus, this new focus is not on whether or not you sin again or not. It is on the new life in the risen Christ given you, being so busy, focused, no more time to sin
Thanking Father to reveal this truth to you Brother

Whatever criticisms there are towards Solomon, at least he was honest. He expresses a lot of frustration in chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes that his efforts to live a "good life" and lead the kingdom responsibly did not yield the fulfillment he craved. He enjoyed pleasure, laughter, wine, and made his "works great" (Ecc. 2: 1-4). Solomon said, " So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me" (v. 9). He didn't hold back any pleasure, he "rejoiced" in his work, yet his conclusion was "...there was no profit under the sun" (vs. 10-11).

Then, Solomon starts thinking about the end result of the great kingdom of Israel that he governed and led very well from a materialistic perspective: "So I said in my heart, As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?" (v. 15). Rich or poor, we die. Going from rejoicing in his work during his prime to later sensing the shadow of death with age, he said that "...I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me..." (v. 17). Why?

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

New King James Version

18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I .toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

What a bummer. Solomon was given the gift of wisdom, oversaw Jerusalem being raised into the crown jewel of the world, built the incredible temple that his father dreamed of constructing himself, and he lived the ultimate life of royalty with wine, women, and song. But because his focus was limited to the present mortality, reality starts hitting home that he couldn't take any of it to the grave where he would eventually end up. Sadly, his worst nightmares would come true swiftly after his death with a divided kingdom and an empire that crumbled into the dust.

Even at the depths of his depression, Solomon still had glimmers of hope and optimism as the end of chapter 2 and the beautiful poetry of chapter 3 express.

This gets me to see death. We all die physically, not Spiritually. We have living Souls. God breathed into Adam and man became a living Soul
Adam ate in "unbelief" to God that if he ate from that tree he was told not to eat from, he saw Eve not die, so he ate too. then ran and hid, took Eve with him, he knew he was as good as dead
Then we see the curse this brought on mankind. Awareness of good and evil, yet not god, want-a-bees ourselves. So we as people make up our own satisfactory rules to ourselves, to be in charge (Psalm 82)
Physical death to us all, everyone born after Adam and Eve dies physically. Matters not, what anyone does or not does, physical death is unavoidable, yet, not God's Spiritual life offered in risen Christ, who by the way went willingly to physical death for us the people to save us all whenever anyone sincerely believes this, is given new life in God's Spirit and Truth tom live by. that is offered in the resurrected Son for us to be new in as born again from God to us. And Jesus the risen has overcome death, not to flesh, all flesh has to go through death sin is condemned to flesh, therefore, willingly is best to be dead physically presently, daily. So be alive today in God's Spirit and Truth held alive for now in that flesh by God for you as in acts 17:28, be that willingly daily and be at peace, while in the middle of tragedies here on earth, thanks Brother love to you as you already know and thought trying to get to you in seeking it out. You are given new life in the risen Christ from God to you for you. You believe God, God has freed you, sin (Unbelief) is not letting you by trying to keep you in thought(s) under Law to keep you betwixt when God says it is best for us to take all thought captive to the obedience of his Son.
I glory in my need for God, am glad I get reminded of this need
A messenger of satan comes to buffet me, to keep me humble, so I don't think I know, for whenever I thought or think I know, pride enters and makes to think I am better than others, when I am not ever better than anyone else, nor is anyone else
Father has no respect of persons, None y'all none
thank you

I like how Solomon ends the section that is captured at the end of Chapter 2, and it ties in nicely with some of James' thoughts, too:

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

New King James Version

24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, [a]more than I? 26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Eating and drinking in moderation are gifts from God that we should enjoy, and working hard to be successful in our careers, professions, and trades is admirable and should yield a lot of satisfaction when we look back on our lives and thank God for His blessings. I'm not so sure about Solomon's works-oriented perspective in verse 26, though. So, the "good" receive "wisdom and knowledge and joy." But "sinners" get stuck with the dirty work to make life better for "him who is good before God?"

Solomon's father had a different perspective that he expresses quite well lyrically:

Psalm 14:1-3

New King James Version

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable
works,
There is none who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from
heaven upon the children of
men,
To see if there are any who
understand, who seek God.

3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become
corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

David and Solomon had much different relationships with God that I will delve into later, and James puts a nice NT twist into this equation as well:

James 1:16-18

New King James Version

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

David understood that at His core, God is gracious and loving. I can't think of any examples I've seen from Solomon right now that shows he really understood God's true nature. James understands grace and the giving generosity of our Creator who provides "every good gift and every perfect gift" because He is our "Father of lights." How beautiful and reassuring. It seems that at least at this point in chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes, Solomon sees God as a rewarder of "good" and a punisher of "evil." And mixed into all of that, I counted 8 uses of the word "vanity" not including the several other variations like "grasping for the wind" to show his cynical state of mind.

James says that we as God's children "might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." That's a nice allusion to the harvest where God in His love has given us a Savior who has redeemed us through love and grace, and our hope is in the resurrection from the dead. No, we can't take our material treasures into the grave, and we don't need them. What awaits us on the other side of death is abundance of joy and life in God's presence forever. Unless I'm missing something, I don't think Solomon ever had that hope. His dad certainly did.

Contrasted with God Father is the only one good per Jesus in Matt 19, tha tis in Mark and Luke as well.
Why call me good, only my Father is good
God imputes righteousness, we the people do not do righteousness
We the people believe, trust God to lead and do as called to love all, not a few as most people, only love those that love them back. I was that in my first birth, not anymore, yet tempting of evil still hangs out in the crowd today. Keeping on the Armor of Father given through Son as risen. Standing in that, does that make me good? No for me. thanks
God is good and the only one
God is good all the time as good is God all the time, not usually seen while in adversities Yet Job saw it all the way through the book of Job and never denied God, thanking God all in all

yet, there is none good but God, see the vanity. And I do not see God punishing, Disciplining yes, not punishing, people punish, God does not, from the view I see, that God has given me to love all over the few only the first born flesh can only do, unless born new by Father in risen Son for them too, thank you

Solomon, I think did and was sharing in care to us all, God's unfathomable love. How he searched all over and found it all vanity
Kind of like this:
I have searched this world all over, searching out the best place to be and have serenity with peace forever. I found no place. came back to me in prayer and saw it is God living in me and through me that I now respond to willingly, in his love and mercy fro us all to at peace with, no matter what is done good or bad, at least contentment
Thanking, God cleansed us all through Son to be willingly new in Father's Spirit and Truth given us to be content in all things hope to have helped you to see clearer in your faith walk journey Brother

Depends on what you think of as "dirty work" but, it's not really a works based perspective. The "good" are those whose faith is accounted to them as righteousness. Consider the scribes and Pharisees; many of whom didn't end up believers; but they did a lot of scholarly gathering and collecting; with the ultimate purpose (not necessarily their purpose, but God's purpose) of dispensing the contents of the scriptures to those who would believe- and thereby gain wisdom, knowledge and joy- while those who sat in Moses seat speaking the word; but not believing it would not receive the same benefits. Granted, there were no Pharisees in Solomon's day; but there were no doubt bad priests and levites who played the same role and eventually meet the same fate. So, it's not necessarily talking about personal property, or material goods- although that's not off the table; but, it just means that those who are unbelieving are collecting "stuff" without getting what is really important in life.

Mourning and sorrow can well up some inspiring creativity as Solomon illustrates in one of my favorite poems, Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8:

To everything there is a
season,
A time for every purpose
under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is
planted;

A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from
embracing;

A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;

A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

I love the Byrds' rendition of Solomon's lyrics. David Crosby participates in the performance below:

Me too! I also appreciate Paul's lyrics in 1CR 1:21b-24, "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

The verses you shared answer the question, what is wisdom from a Christian point of view? "Christ...the wisdom of God."

Look at the first example Solomon gives "to everything there is a season...A time to be born, And a time to die." Mortality can be a sobering foe to face, especially as we get older. Skipping ahead in James,

James 4:13-14

New King James Version

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow [a]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

My wife and I are coming up on our 30th anniversary, and in some ways it only seems like a short time ago. Time seems to keep accelerating as we age too, and days go by like hours, weeks like days, and years like months it seems. Life is a vapor. Here's what Christ, "the wisdom of God," has to say:

Luke 12:13-21

New King James Version

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of [a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Authorized (King James) Version

Luke 21:14-15

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Father and Son are all the wisdom I needed, and each that believe Father and Son as Won for them are given this in love to all, over the few one did before being made new as born again from Father to them, that quit condemning anyone, at least me

Yes, WISDOM refers to Christ/the NT/GRFS, and "wisdom" refers to secondary moral precepts that manifest the fruit of the HS involved with obeying Christ's new commandment: Love God and everyone else.

The remainder of chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes is great commentary on the beautiful poem he composed in verses 1-8. I'm not so sure about his theology and the state of his relationship with God, though. Ecclesiastes was composed later in life, and Solomon reflects back on what he's experienced and the wisdom he has gained - all valuable lessons for us. Nevertheless, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and he ended up falling away from God "...and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David" (I Kings 11: 3-4). So, I look with a suspect eye when he is making observations about God:

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

New King James Version

The God-Given Task

9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

Here, we have the view of God the taskmaster again; "...the sons of men are to be occupied," so get your rear ends to work! I love how he says God has "put eternity in their heart," but then he follows that up with "...no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." Really? I don't think he had a good relationship with God at this point in his life because God desires us to know Him and follow His ways. God doesn't hide anything from us that we need to know to live a happy and prosperous life.

we today, are revealed more than Solomon or anyone chose to believe. They knew a Messiah was to arise and redeem them. how, when and where, no one knew. They were looking forward to this and never saw the promise fulfilled in their day. Hebrews 11 reveals this truth to me, they believed and never received the whole truth, so who could understand it
you, me and all the world has gotten revealed this to each person in Son as risen the Messiah for us to be now viewed from Father as if never once sinned.
Wow, woe is me seeing that in Isaiah 6:1-7 time to believe and stand in belief to Father in risen son for us, to see Psalm 103:12 as fulfilled in risen Son Jesus.
You, from the view I see, you want to be perfect, and are not and yet try to be, perfect under Law to not ever sin again, because of religion doing that in you, you better or else attitudes of flesh religion, Do we not read and trust Father to reveal to us the truth of what is written to us. Are we giving pastors, clergy and others the lead over God to us? I think people are in general doing that, forsaking a personal relationship between Father and themselves, Putting buildings built by man in charge, hearing them and doing, trying to do what they say to do, as they do not do the truth, these use the truth to get you under their thumbs, and have done this. Read Hebrews 8 please
When we are told Col 1:21-23 we are made as if never sinned by God for us though Son to us in his being risen from the dead. The Death came first to fulfill the Law of Moses for us to be freed from under it, to love all and not a few as people only in the first birth only know how to do. Many do not see this truth, God does just love you, so, we are sent out to seek out truth and get doubt installed in us, which stops us from getting established in truth of God's love for us all to not know God just loves us all, unless we obey perfect as Son did, when no other flesh can ever please God but Son's that did that once for us all in his death first.and so we try, try, try, try over belief to God alone by God, it is done for us all in Son to them. (John 19:30), which no one understood in the first testament, not even the first Prophesy in Genesis 3 of Son to come, here to earth in the only flesh that ever pleased God Father. and take care of all in this love and mercy given to all by that cross, especially in the risen Son for us to be new in love to all. for us to be new in love and mercy to all too.
understanding Nothing can ever separate us from this love of God through Son given us, Nothing!
Just take a water glass of water, it is pure water right? Add a drop of ink, a small drop and then is that water tainted?
Continue under Law that was put in place to reveal our need for God to lead
1 Tim 1 re-read it, please

I see what doubt did to me when I got put under Law, and went after to not sin. I saw sin win, by trying not to sin. So afraid to not stop trying to not sin, I was so afraid
Until one day I heard this, which at first I did not believe was from God to me
I saw a cliff over yonder, was told to look over it, I did that and saw fear if I jumped off, afraid clearly
I heard Jump, I replied no way, I think I am doing pretty good trying to stay away from doing wrongs. I heard okay, how you doing in that way? Not well, yet better than others. I hear okay do you trust God Father for you in risen Son for you?
I replied why Yes of coarse!
Then jump! I fought and fought and fought being afraid. Then one day I heard, do you not see, that if, you let go of Fear, doubt, As you are in doubt, I, God Father of my risen Son will catch you in the palm of my hand where you can rest from troubles, while in troubles. Rest has entered and fear is gone, along with doubt is now kicked out by me standing in belief, not of works, if I do stand in work, then it is I that is being in charge, not daddy Papa Father in risen Son for us all is it?
I jumped spiritually, not physically
Next!!!!!!!!!!!


Authorized (King James) Version

Col 1:21-23

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Do you see what is now done for you presently and forever from God to you or not?
Doubt is kicking you around the podium, Am I good enough? No, no one is, and that be why Father sent Son for us all. Those in that first testament could not understand.Could not enter Father's rest, because of "Unbelief" completed in Son. today for us all to. now stand in
Now once Son did what Son did. he went to Spirit Prison to preach to all them before his coming to earth first and preached to them and they believed and freed as Matthew tells of this in Matthew 27:52
God won in Son for us to be viewed new as are perfect, how amazing to get revealed this and be new in love to all too, yes even those that have done you wrong too