LIVING THE BETTER LIFE, UNDER THE SON
Life Lived Under Foolish Leadership

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
Bob Bonner
May 30, 1999

This morning, we are looking at a passage of Scripture that concerns everyone in this room. For some of us, the implications of these verses will hit us simultaneously on more than one front at a time. The issue at hand is living in a world that has nations whose leaders are unscrupulous, cruel, oppressive and downright immoral. They are leaders driven by a hunger for personal pleasure, personal glory and outright control of their world. This includes leadership that we find right here in America as well as in Kosovo. What makes matters worse, is that it appears to many who are forced to live under the control of these leaders, that these leaders are allowed to continue their wicked reign unchecked. However, we will see that this is not the case.

Although the context of our passage refers specifically to governmental leaders of kingdoms, the implications of these verses can also apply to leaders or rulers over a business, over a school, over a home, and even to spiritual leaders over religious institutions.

It’s into these environments that each of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ are called to live and in some cases even suffer, as godly citizens or subjects, employees or students, as children or spouses. 

I’m convinced that the Spirit of God has placed this passage of Scripture here as a warning to all who are leaders of one sort or another, as to what their future holds if they continue to seek their own personal kingdoms, rather than what God has in mind. In addition, the Spirit of God includes these words in His book so that believers who are forced to live under such immoral, greedy, self-centered leaders would be encouraged, that even as ugly as it can get, the situation is not out of God’s hands. I have read that the Jews who suffered under the domination of Persia found much hope and assurance from reading these verses. Those Jews identified with the circumstances written in these verses and rejoiced in the prospect of a sure deliverance by God.

As we look at these verses, we will first approach them from the view of a nation ruled by foolish leadership and what one can expect will transpire under their leadership. By the way, remember that Solomon, not only in this book but in another of his works, the book of Proverbs, defines a fool as ultimately someone who ignores God. Then, secondly, we will look briefly, at the only two instructions given in this passage to those god-fearing believers who must live under such godless leadership.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Ecclesiastes 10:1, however, be informed that this morning, I’m not going to be reading from the NASB, but from the NIV. Allow me to remind you what the immediate context of these verses is. In the latter half of Ecclesiastes 9, Solomon was giving us an illustration of a great king conquering a city that could have been saved if that city had listened to the wisdom of one poor wise man. But the foolish leaders and rulers of the city ignored the wise man because he was poor and not a man of influence.

Beginning with chapter 10, Solomon goes a step further to explain what happens to people who have a foolish leader governing them, one who rejects the wisdom of God,. The key words used in this passage are the words “folly” and “fool.” Together, in the original language, they are repeated nine times in these 20 verses.

The overall point of this section is that the Lord will use the very folly and foolishness of godless rulers to bring to an end their own rule. Sometimes, that will include the death and destruction of innocent God-fearing people who are stuck with living under a wicked and foolish leader.

As I told you last week, Ecclesiastes 10:1 is a hinge verse. It completes the thoughts of the previous section while at the same time, introduces us to the next section. In this case, Solomon chooses to introduce the subject of “folly” in verse 1, and to remind us that it doesn’t take much of folly or acts of indiscretion to ruin everything, like those immoral sexual encounters that have taken place in our White House. He states, “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” From the original language, the implication of the literal words, “the death of flies,” Solomon is even more graphic than this reads in the English. He is saying that a little fly poop, dropped into a vat of very expensive perfume can so corrupt that vat of perfume that when left to ferment, that microscopic drop of fly dung will cause the perfume to stink, rather than smell good. Similarly, as we will see in our verses for this morning, the foolishness of one key leader can corrupt and make the whole organization stink. Or, one fool can begin the corruption of a kingdom.

For those of you who may wish to be politically correct, these principles apply to both male and female leadership. However, since Solomon is clearly speaking about male leadership in these verses, using male terms throughout these verses, I will be using “he” throughout this teaching to stay in line with the text. Yet, the points are true for both male and female authority figures–i.e, moms, wives, businesswomen, and female community leaders, all who are in leadership or hold positions of authority.

Solomon gives us five insights into the results of having a fool for a leader or ruler. His first is given to us in verses 2-3. He states, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as he walks along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how stupid he is.”

The expression “the right hand” or “the right” has always referred to being in a position of strength, or under someone else’s protection. In contrast to that, the “left hand” or being “to the left” is a picture of incompetence, being unprotected and vulnerable (no political puns intended here!). Solomon’s point here as it concerns the upcoming context is that a foolish leader leaves those under his charge vulnerable and unprotected   

Furthermore, as he walks in public along the road of life, the fool shows everybody how stupid he is. It’s only a matter of time before a godless and immoral leader will get caught revealing his morally absolute bankrupt state to the point that even the village idiot will see it and call him “stupid.”

There is a second observation Solomon makes about the foolish leader. He says, “There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.”

In Solomon’s day, as was true in most monarchies, the leadership would train and educate their own children and relatives as to what it meant to be a leader. They would educate them in military tactics, public relations, law, economic policies, etc. for the future purpose of being a leader in the community. For the most part, the leadership always came from the educated ranks of the aristocracy, who, as a general rule, were the only literate people in the kingdom.

Sometimes, a leader would rise up from the ranks of the common folk, who possessed dynamic leadership qualities, to capture the support of the community to lead them, but usually that only happened when the present leadership had become so weak, incompetent and or corrupt that someone outside the circle of the aristocracy could step in. 

Barring that scenario, the only way you could end up with hand- picked leadership from the aristocracy that were not gifted leaders, was to be a poor judge of character as it concerned leaders. It would be to appoint people not because of their abilities but because of political favors or friendships.

These verses we just read reflect the latter. In verse 5, Solomon uses a word for “ruler” that means something different than a king. Instead, this word for “ruler” means a “domineering” person. Someone who thinks he knows it all, and therefore, has to be in control to prove he knows what he is doing. When in reality, he needs a lot of education as to economic policies, laws, the condition of his army, etc. Solomon is bemoaning the pathetic and deplorable situation of having a leader who is foolish because he lacks character as well as education; and as a result, that leader makes decisions that are truly “errors” literally, blunders in decisions, because not much thought was given to what he was doing.

Then in verses 6-7, he gives us a specific example of what kind of a foolish decision he has witnessed foolish leaders make. Instead of choosing his cabinet leadership from the pool of wise and experienced and rich aristocracy, this “know it all” domineering leader chooses his cabinet leaders from the poor, uneducated and inexperienced people who have never led anybody across the street. Hence, the uneducated, inexperienced slaves are “riding the horses” symbolizing wealth and leadership, while the real qualified leaders, the princes are “walking” which symbolizes follower-ship.

Solomon is subtly admitting to a reality of life. That is, that when someone is given a position not based on merit, but by a capricious decision made by a leader, then the value of wisdom and experience is often nullified and everybody else suffers for it. In that situation, there is no one nearby the foolish ruler to correct or give wise counsel. In turn, that allows the foolish ruler to march the nation right into disaster.

From here, Solomon points to four proverbs that concern dangers at work, or secrets to success at one’s job when one is a leader. These four proverbs come from everyday life experiences. These situations are only fatal or can lead to failure if one is presumptuous, overconfident and thus, foolish. But, on the other hand, if one is wise, then you and others won’t get hurt and suffer needlessly. Instead, you can live a long, safe and successful life. In context, I sense that Solomon is saying that a foolish leader, through his or her arrogance, foolishness and presumption will bring the end to either  his own life or to his right to rule or both.

As we continue to look at the following verses, keep in mind that Solomon is only speaking about those unmistakable foolish leaders.

In verse 8, we read the first proverb that describes foolishness or a lack of common sense for one in leadership. Solomon writes, “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.” Pits were often dug in Solomon’s day to catch wild game, for the purpose of eating, or for the purpose of killing a wild animal, like a leopard, that had been endangering one’s flocks. The danger of pit digging, is that once you have dug this pit and climbed out by a ladder and then removed the ladder, you don’t want to fall back into the pit. If you did, you might break your neck and die. Or, you could fall in and then a leopard might fall in and eat you. It’s all a matter of caution and common sense. The warning is that if you are building a trap for someone else, learn the lesson of the trap and be careful to practice it, or you might fall into the same trap. In the book of Esther, Haman was a leader who fell into his own trap and was hanged as a result of his foolishness.

Secondly, Solomon points to tearing down a rock wall. If you wanted to remove a boundary made by a rock wall so as to enlarge a field you are cultivating, or to enlarge a pen in which you are keeping animals, you want to be careful to watch out for snakes. In Palestine during the colder months poisonous snakes will lay out on rocks to get warm. In the warmer months, they will crawl in amongst the rocks to stay cool in the shade. Common sense says keep a close lookout for snakes in rock walls. Don’t go sticking your hand in any crevices that may be home to a poisonous snake. It could be fatal. The point of wisdom for a leader here is to examine a situation first, before you jump in and take action.

Verse 9 states, “Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.” Similar to the common risks of digging a pit and removing rocks from a wall, you want to be careful when working in a rock quarry. Foolish work practices in a rock quarry could lead to one being injured or killed by a rock slide. The leadership lesson here is be aware of your surroundings. There may be stones, people who want your spot, who are just looking for an opportunity to fall on you. Likewise, as any good logger would know, when falling logs in the forest work with caution so as to not have a tree fall down on you. Obvious stuff. There’s danger there, but if you work cautiously, you should be all right. A wise leader is one who is always cautious and always on alert. He takes nothing under his rule for granted.

Next, he looks at wisdom that leads to success in a job. Solomon writes, “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” An empire builder or national leader that leaves God out of his plans, lacks true wisdom. He is a foolish leader. His success is doomed to great difficulty and frustration, if not failure. He is like a person working hard at a task with a dull ax. His strength will be wasted. But sharpening his ax, which is comparable to looking to the Lord for direction, will bring success.

The final proverb is in verse 11, which reads, “If a snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.” Different from the wise man who sharpens his ax before he cuts, this proverb states that wisdom does no good to the one who possesses it, if he doesn’t use it ahead of time to prevent him from getting bit or into trouble. If a leader knows what to do before he does it, but does not do what he knows is wise, his wisdom proves to be of no profit.

Bottom line, there are some basic rules to governing and governing well. Solomon is telling us, “The foolish leader ignores well-known dangers related to his governing. And as a result the ruler endangers not only his own life, but the life of his followers.” He will eventually lead his followers into failure, not success.

Moving from a leader’s foolish appointing of a cabinet, to foolish actions that can be fatal or lead to failure, Solomon now focuses on the point that the foolish leader’s words eventually bring his wicked demise. Verse 12 reads, “Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming--who can tell him what will happen after him?” I think Richard Dehaan summed up best what Solomon was getting at when he wrote, “Unqualified men in high positions are filled with a false bravado because they do not know what will happen to them. In actuality they are often short-sighted people and subject to delusions.”

Foolish leaders talk so much, that no one can get a word in edgewise so as to correct or give needed direction or counsel. Foolish leaders speak of victory or great advances and a bright future ahead for coming generations because of their leadership. But their policies in fact are pure madness. In the end, no one really knows for sure what the future will bring, especially not the foolish, ungodly leader. Instead, these foolish leaders bring disaster upon their nations, their businesses, their schools and their families.

From here, Solomon now turns to examining the work ethic of the foolish ruler. He says in verse 15, “A fool's work wearies him; he does not know the way to town.”  In other words, because of a foolish leader’s incompetence, he becomes weary about his work due to confusion as to what is the best course of action. He is so incompetent that he can’t find his way to town, which wasn’t too difficult during those days considering there was usually only one road in and out of town. To put it in today’s terms, this would be similar to describing a foolish leader as one who “is so dumb he couldn’t find his way out of a wet paper bag!”

Solomon continues, “Woe to you, O land whose king was a servant [literally “a child of inexperience”] and whose princes feast in the morning.” In other words, Solomon says, “I feel sorry for you and your community if your leadership is so childish, that the first thing they think of in the morning is partying, rather than getting about the business of taking care of the community.” 

He contrasts this with a blessing. He says, on the other hand, “Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time--for strength and not for drunkenness.”  Conversely, there is a proper time for celebrating and another time for eating to make one strong so as to work better. Hence, blessed are you if you have leadership who know when it is time to eat so as to work and know when it is time to eat because it is time to celebrate.

Furthermore, Solomon adds, “If a man [i.e. “a ruler”] is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, [literally “down at his sides”] the house leaks.” If you have a leader who is lazy and doesn’t know how to work more than 60 hours a week to take care of needed maintenance in a kingdom, that community will start to fall apart. 

Let’s be careful not to misrepresent Solomon. Solomon was not one who only knew how to work hard. He was not against having a good time. Solomon knew that “all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy.” Hence, he adds, “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.” The idea here is that money normally comes to those who work hard. When they have worked hard and made money, then when it comes time to celebrate, money is the answer or what’s needed to throw a party, a big feast where there is enough food and drink and fun that everybody enjoys laughing together.

Solomon’s whole point, in verses 15-19, is that a wise leader knows how to work hard and when to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor while the foolish leader’s slothfulness brings the downfall of a nation.

It’s obvious from these verses that Solomon hopes that his readers have godly and wise leadership over their communities, businesses, schools and families. However, he warns us that wise leadership doesn’t just happen. Wise leadership happens because godly people stand up and support them in every way they can. Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2, that the obvious way to have wise leadership is to pray for them. In our country, we only have the leadership we do through seeking candidates who are wise and supporting them with our votes. For those who are godly not to vote, nor support godly leadership, is pure foolishness. If we don’t vote then we deserve whatever we get for leadership.

There are two verses we have not yet touched from this passage that deal with the citizens’ response to living under leadership that is foolish. The first instruction Solomon gives to us who may be living under a foolish leader is found in verse 4. Here, Solomon states, “If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors [literally, “great sins”] to rest.”

It is unclear as to who is in error here. Is it the foolish ruler or the citizen? Since this follows verse four’s comment about a foolish leader’s making a stupid mistake, I take it to refer to the leader’s mistake. If that is the correct interpretation, then Solomon’s point is that when this leader blows up at you because he is embarrassed by his own blunder and feels like he has to take it out on someone else, don’t run from him if he picks on you. Allow time and calmness to bring rest to the situation. You remain cool and by all means, don’t talk back or try to defend yourself. Just let him be, is your best course of action, is what Solomon is saying.  The anger of a foolish leader must be soothed with a calm forbearance that neither sins in fear nor deserts in bitterness.

Verse 20 is the only other instruction to the person living and working under a foolish boss, ruler, teacher, parent or any authority figure. Solomon says, “Do not revile [or curse] the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”

Solomon understands the difficulty of living under a foolish, immoral, godless ruler who is taking the nation downhill. His warning here is a good one, especially in a time when “Big Brother” can be watching or listening to your every word and you may never know it. When a leader has been foolish and knows that people are unhappy with his leadership, he oftentimes becomes suspicious and paranoid. Men, like Saddam Hussein, will fire, remove and probably put to death those he fears around him who aren’t absolutely loyal. 

Hence, whether in the private thoughts that are only heard in your mind, or those softly spoken in the privacy of your bedroom among friends, whatever you do, don’t curse the leadership; because somehow, it will get back to him and you will be in a dangerous state. You will be shocked at how often what you say against another in leadership will get back to that person. When you ask him how he got that information, he might say, “A little birdie told me!” If you hear that, this is where that expression came from.

In all situations where we are under another’s authority, the biblical pattern calls for submission to that authority in every area that does not violate God’s laws. Or, to paraphrase Solomon’s and the Apostle Paul’s words, Do not curse foolish leadership. Instead, submit to and pray for them.

The first century Christians left us with a good example to follow. They lived under varying degrees of persecution by the Roman government, but they did not head up riots or stir up rebellious movements on the behalf of the religious right. Only when ordered to offer incense to Caesar did they refuse to obey. They continued to take the high road of willingness to suffer personally by the way they lived their lives in order that Jesus Christ would take front stage The focus of their lives was never their patriotism, it was their worship of Jesus.

This Sunday evening I want to encourage you to join me in a community-wide worship service with other believers in this community. Together we will seek the face of Jesus Christ and pray for our community. In this small way, we can demonstrate to others who it is that takes priority in our lives.

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