For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Sounds pretty grim doesn’t it? But, it all depends on the purpose for which wisdom or knowledge are sought. You see, Solomon was seeking wisdom “under the sun,” that is apart from God, as his source of happiness. And it is rightly concluded as “vanity and grasping for the wind.” However, if wisdom is viewed as based in “the fear of the Lord,” then it is the very means of obtaining true happiness. And you see, Solomon came to this very conclusion in Ecclesiastes. Also, the Old Testament understanding of wisdom is not the accumulation of great amounts of knowledge. Solomon discovered that wisdom is first and foremost living a successful life of righteousness and peace in obedience to God. Knowledge alone does not bring wisdom. Indeed, the message of Ecclesiastes is that knowledge alone brings only sorrow. Wisdom is the accumulation of the right kind of knowledge coupled with a life that is in harmony with God’s commands and at peace with Him. The knowledge of evil brings us sadness and similar emotions. The knowledge of great things around us only brings us short-lived joy and sometimes grief. The knowledge of God is the knowledge that always and will forever bring us a well of unending joy here on earth and peace in eternity in Heaven.
Spiritual Steve 