Ecclesiastes Wisdom On Balance And Moderation
The book of Ecclesiastes frequently emphasizes the value of balance and moderation in human endeavors, contrasting it with extremes that lead to futility or harm. This theme is particularly evident in the Teacher's observations on work, wisdom, and the pursuit of pleasure.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes observes that while diligence is important, an immoderate pursuit of wealth driven by competitive envy is ultimately meaningless. Many people are motivated by a competitive drive for success, but since the fruits of these efforts often lack intrinsic value, moderation is recommended over envy [8]. Some individuals frantically devote all their time and effort to hard work in pursuit of fleeting wealth, leaving no time to enjoy it. In contrast, wise people practice moderation and contentment [5]. This idea extends to activity and speech, with the counsel that moderation should characterize both our efforts and our words [6]. Even in the pursuit of wisdom itself, a moderate approach to writing and studying allows time to apply and enjoy its benefits [4].
Ecclesiastes also highlights the practical benefits of wisdom, which inherently promotes a balanced approach to life. Wisdom is described as a strength, more potent than ten rulers in a city [2], and it serves as a defense, much like money, preserving the life of its possessor [3]. The quiet words of the wise are considered more effective than the shouts of a ruler among fools [1].
However, the book also presents a nuanced view, suggesting that even positive attributes like righteousness and wisdom can be taken to an extreme. While righteousness and wisdom are generally good and wholesome, an excess in these can be destructive. As one commentary notes, "even in these a transgressing of the right measure is possible," which can lead to a person becoming a "caricature" or provoking the hatred of others [7]. This perspective suggests that true wisdom involves discerning the appropriate measure in all things, avoiding extremes.
The concept of moderation, often termed "temperance" in theological traditions, is a virtue that safeguards reason against rebellious passions [9]. It involves a "reasonableness of dealing," where one does not insist on their rights to the uttermost but rather yields a part, thereby rectifying the injustices of strict justice [10]. This includes candor and kindliness [10]. The archetype of this grace is God, who does not press the strictness of His law against humanity as deserved [10]. This broader understanding of moderation aligns with the practical wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, which encourages a balanced life that avoids both idleness and excessive striving, recognizing the limits of human effort and the importance of contentment.
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. -- Ecclesiastes 9:17”
- Ecclesiastes “Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. -- Ecclesiastes 7:19”
- Ecclesiastes “For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. -- Ecclesiastes 7:12”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 12:12: 12:12 A moderate approach to writing and studying wisdom leaves enough time to apply it and enjoy its fruits.”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 4:5: 4:5-6 Fools do not even try to succeed and end up impoverished. Others frantically devote two handfuls—all their time and effort—to hard work in pursuit of fleeting wealth that they will have no time to enjoy (cp. Prov 23:4-5). Wise people practice moderation and contentment (quietness).”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 5:3: 5:3 Too much activity . . . too many words: Moderation should characterize our efforts and words (cp. Prov 10:19).”
- Ecclesiastes (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Ecclesiastes 7:17: Up to this point all is clear: righteousness and wisdom are good and wholesome, and worth striving for; but even in these a transgressing of the right measure is possible (Luther remembers the summum just summa injuria), which has as a consequence, that they become destructive to man, because he thereby becomes a caricature, and either perishes rushing from one extreme into another, or is removed out of the way by others whose hatred he provokes. But it is strange that the author now warns against an excess in wickedness, so that he seems to find wickedne”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 4:4: 4:4 Most people are motivated to success by a competitive drive. Since the fruits of these efforts have no intrinsic value, the Teacher recommends that moderation (4:5-6) replace envy.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Temperance, Art. 3: Article: Whether temperance is only about desires and pleasures? I answer that, As stated above (Question [123], Article [12]; Question [136], Article [1]), it belongs to moral virtue to safeguard the good of reason against the passions that rebel against reason. Now the movement of the soul's passions is twofold, as stated above (FS, Question [23], Article [2]), when we were treating of the passions: the one, whereby the sensitive appetite pursues sensible and bodily goods, the other whereby i”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 4:5: moderation--from a Greek root, "to yield," whence yieldingness [TRENCH]; or from a root, "it is fitting," whence "reasonableness of dealing" [ALFORD], that considerateness for others, not urging one's own rights to the uttermost, but waiving a part, and thereby rectifying the injustices of justice. The archetype of this grace is God, who presses not the strictness of His law against us as we deserve (Psa 130:3-4); though having exacted the fullest payment for us from our Divine Surety. There are included in "moderation," candor and kindliness. Joy ”