The advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it

 Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

It is wise to take account of death as well as life. A serious outlook on life is best. Know how to enjoy good times and learn from bad ones.

Why?

Hold on now, enjoy when time is good, when time is bad, it is God who made these two, therefore no one can discover anything about the future. Don't worry about the future, but be wise and obey the word of the Lord.

Anger could not solve the problem. Be patient, it is better than pride.

People like to enjoy the beginning, but more important is how about the result.

1.試練的教導

名譽勝於膏油，名代表內在的本質。不會隨著環境改變。膏油代表芬芳。我們看事要看本質。苦難的本質是好的。膚淺的人只會用感覺去評論。看事情本質是否對人有幫助。我們追求是本質還是感覺

2.智慧(試練)的4個危機： 妥協、賄賂。只看眼前的事好不好，感覺如何?來評斷，批評，怨恨，就是一種驕傲的心態。不願耐心等候神的時間。

3.智慧勝於產業：要有智慧來判斷。智慧護庇人，好像銀錢護庇人一樣惟。獨智慧保護人的生命。惟： 但是。大自然的反撲，人不能改變。人一直想改變一些事情，其實未來的事我們也無法掌握，人是有限的。

讓我們在喜樂中，苦難中都會感恩。

How?

Be a wise man before the Lord, better than pride and fool man.