IF KNOWLEDGE BRINGS GRIEF, WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE EDUCATED?

February 15, 2019Uncategorizedecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 1:18, educated, education, fear, God, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, grief, harm, harmful, ignorance, Jesus Christ, knowledge, Lord, Proverbs, Proverbs 2:3-4, side effect, solomon, sorrow, student, students, teacher, teachers, wisdomabarkley8

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Solomon, the Teacher, remarks that the increase of knowledge and wisdom only brings greater grief and sorrow. The state of affairs naturally begs the question: Why be educated? Why not live out your life in happy ignorance?

Knowledge and wisdom are gifts from the Lord, however, Even Solomon himself advises that wisdom and understanding (knowledge) are to be greatly sought after. Specifically, he instructs the reader to “cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you wold for lost money or hidden treasure” (Proverbs 2:3-4).

The Teacher goes on to say that wisdom and knowledge will allow you to understand the fear of the Lord and to gain knowledge of Him. If a side effect of being able to understand the fear of the Lord is greater sorrow, that side effect-sorrow-cannot be so harmful.

ECCLESIASTES 1:18- 18. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.