Common Destination for Wise and Fool (Ecc 2:15-17)

COMMON DESTINATION FOR WISE AND FOOL (Ecc 2:15-17):

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes continues his self-reflection, after finding emptiness in all the things around him, as everything vanishes over a period of time. Again he writes that he told to himself that whatever happens to the fool will happen also to him, as he had already acknowledged that wisdom was with him all the time and he considered wisdom more than folly. The author realizes that there is no special provision for the wise person from what all that is natural and destined, he uses a rhetorical question saying therefore, what the point of being so wise is. There are always physical, mental and social struggles that need to be undergone by every human being in the face of the earth whatever and whoever they are, whether wise or fool. And when the author knew it by the reflection of all the happenings and experiences around him, he told to himself that the point of being wise is also pointless.

Every human being admires at someone who is their favorite based on their interest, give honor to the person (s) who are excellent in a particular field. Even we remember certain people in life who had acted foolishly at certain times. But it is not certain that a person remembers everyone who were admired at a particular period of time, throughout. The eminence of a certain person in any field is not long sustaining as it will be overtaken by some other person afterward. Therefore the author of the book of Ecclesiastes says that neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered since everything will be forgotten in the days to come. As days go by, the memory of the person fades and vanishes slowly as the person doesn’t have time and energy to admire or be entertained by all the wise people. Every person has their own situations and circumstances to face which doesn’t give place to others best, at times. The position and power of being wise to have its own limitations and it has a certain point of no remembrance. And the wise man who is well known and honored dies the same way as the fool. The author makes the point using the question tag, doesn’t he?

The author of Ecclesiastes stated previously that there is no one wiser than him who had existed before his kingdom. But being in the state of realizing the common things that every human being has to face whether being wise or fool, the author says that he hated life because whatever is done on earth caused him trouble as there is no much difference in the earth for being the way the person is. At a point, the author feels that there is no valid reason for doing anything in the world because of not giving a place for God in life and making the thoughts just with a mortal perspective. He sees everything is pointless without any difference and it’s directionless and meaningless like that of chasing after the wind.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author say to himself? Why?

2.    What’s the point of being so wise, according to the author?

3.    Why the author says to himself that being so wise is also pointless?

4.    What will happen to both the wise and the fool?

5.    Why the wise or fool will not be long remembered?

6.    Why does the author say that wise men die the same way as the fool?

7.    Why does the author hate life?

8.    Why does the author say that it is all pointless like chasing after the wind?

9.    How can we make a difference between wise and fool, though there are certain common things?

10. How the hatred towards life at times could be turned in to Joyfulness?