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"Better a poor and wise youth"

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:13

THE VALUE OF WISDOM

Few fully appreciate the value of wisdom! Solomon compares wisdom and foolishness and how the former would ultimately prevail!

“Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
For he comes out of prison to be king,
Although he was born poor in his kingdom.”
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14

1. A sharp and obvious contrast

a) A king and a commoner.

b) The king

i) He has become old.

ii) Unfortunately, he has also become foolish with age.

iii) He does not listen to good advice from his counsellors anymore.

iv) He would not heed admonishment from anyone.

v) His kingdom would soon come to an end.

c) The commoner

i) He is a youth in contrast to the aged king.

ii) He is poor but he is wise.

iii) He may have protested that the king had failed in his reign.

iv) He is imprisoned by the intolerant and foolish king.

v) He comes out of the prison, having served his term.

2. The new king

a) The poor but wise youth has become the new king.

b) He did not have many advantages in life, being poor.

c) But he has acquired wisdom along the way.

d) He used his wisdom well.

i) He is able to replace the old and foolish king.

ii) He ascends to the throne.

3. This anecdote

a) It was used effectively.

b) To describe how things can go so wrong:

i) For the king who refused to be admonished.

ii) For the king who may be rich and powerful but did not possess wisdom.

c) Also, to describe how things can turn out so well.

i) For the youth who had obtained wisdom.

ii) Through wisdom, he became the next king.