Ecclesiastes10:12-20

12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

The vanity of the fool’s endless words is portrayed here. The wise man is gracious while the fool is consumed by what he says.

In other words if you really listen to someone that has no idea what he is talking about you will soon realize that:

he doesn’t have any idea what he is talking about..

13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.

The problem is that if the fool keeps taking long enough his words will progress from folly

to wickedness

Those who teach evolution are an example of this.

It started as a frivolous, meaningless theory bandied

about by a group of intellectuals over brandy and a

cigar..

Now, in our schools and institutions it is being taught as a factual, historical process.

Foolish talking that has progressed to madness..

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come

after him?

In other words, the fool makes no sense in what he says and if you can’t make sense of his words there is no

way to know what comes next..

15 The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

Most of the intellectuals who believe the theory are so brilliant that they can’t even find their own way home!!

Any argument that ignores God or the revelation of Jesus Christ is frivolous and meaningless:

1Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written,    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,    And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the

debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 

22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to

Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the

power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the

weakness of God is stronger than men.

16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.

We have a king who is a lad

If we have princes or leaders that party in the morning

rather then leading, we are to be pitied How does this apply to us?

While we may not be a king or a prince we are leaders in our community or at least leaders in our family

Everyone has someone looking up to us – what kind of an example are we?.

17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for

strength and not for drunkenness.

What kind of leader does Solomon say is the one to be appreciated?...

The one who is properly trained for the job!

Where do we get the proper training for the positions of leadership that will present themselves in our lifetime?...

God’s word!!!!!

2 Timothy 3:6 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in

righteousness; 

7 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work..

18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

As leaders, if we are lazy, what will be the results?..

Failure..

19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to

everything.

This is the lot of the lazy ruler/person

Let’s eat and drink and enjoy our money for that is what life is all about..

20 Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound

and the winged creature will make the matter known.

The ending advises us to not curse our leaders but to pray for them instead.

Our complaining will eventually become a negative influence on others..

How is you worldly foot print doing, getting smaller??

Is you Christian footprint getting bigger?????

What Do We Take Home

1. Don’t speak like a fool, watch your words

2. Our training comes from God’s word

3. We are to be Godly leaders

4. Do not speak evil of anyone – pray for our leaders