Wise and Fools (Ecc 7: 4-7)

WISE AND FOOLS (Ecc 7: 4-7):

Immediately after saying that the house of mourning or sorrow is better than the house of feasting and sadness, the author says that the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. The wise men think a lot, not temporarily but holistically comparing everything around. So they are not interested in the mortal things and things that are very temporary, without any value, and their heart is in the house of mourning which gives a greater perspective of life, stirring them to be useful to many people. Whereas the fool will be very short focused and tires to gratify the self with as many things as possible but never get satisfied with anything and so the author says that the hearts of the fools are in the house of mirth.

The rebuke of the wise man has a lot of meaning and there would be great learning in it because it has a greater meaning and scope for improvement for a person who hears it. Whereas the song of the fools may be pleasing and interesting to listen, with a smoothening or stimulating effect, but it has a lot of deception in it which has no meaning at all.  So the author says that it is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of the fools.

The laughter of the fools is very short and it quickly passes away, as the fool’s hearts are in the house of mirth which is temporary and they could not rejoice where they are able to sort out things by themselves. The thorns crack out with a crackling sound when put under a pot for heating it, but it doesn’t last much longer and the author says that the laughter of the fools is similar to that, which is also vanity. Whereas oppression surely drives the wise into madness and a gift without a good cause, corrupts the heart. Everyone who sees the oppression or who gets oppressed, even if it’s a wise person to distinguish things, they get driven into madness due to the emotional aspect and limitations of a human being. A gift that is given naturally makes a person get bonded to one who offers it, whether he is just or unjust. Also, there is a possibility that a person who receives the gift may become so much fond of materialistic things, without giving importance to people. So, the author may make a conclusion that the gift without a good cause, corrupts the heart.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    Where the heart of the wise is in? Why?

2.    Where the heart of the fools is in? Why?

3.    Which is better than a song of fools?

4.    Why rebuke of wise is better than a song of fools?

5.    What the laughter of fools is compared to?

6.    What do you mean by the crackling of thorns under a pot?

7.    Why the author says that laughter of fools is also vanity?

8.    How does oppression drive the wise? Why?

9.    How gifts corrupt the heart?

10. How we can be wise without being influenced by oppression or gifts?