Study 9: Chasing After Wisdom

How Do We Chase After Wisdom?

1. Who is the wisest human being you know? What makes him or her so wise?
2. What can you do to gain wisdom?
3. To what extent do you feel shame for not knowing God’s will?
4. To what extent do you despise not “having intel”?
5. To what extent do you prefer “knowing” over “doing”?
6. What benefits are derived from education or from learning new skills?
7. What skills and ability are of most value to your for practical day-to-day living?
8. In what ways does God give his children wisdom to live life successfully?
9. What does it mean to live a successful life?
10. What Scripture passages help ground you in God’s wisdom?

Ecclesiastes 7:1 – 8:1 – Where Can We Find Wisdom?

1. What are ways the Teacher describes wisdom?
2. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
3. How can suffering and sorrow offer instruction for living?
4. Do you agree with the description of wisdom in verses 11-12?
5. What are the limits of human wisdom according to verses 13-15?
6. Describe how fearing God puts life into perspective (v. 18)
7. What perspective does wisdom provide according to verses 19-22?
8. What further observations does the Teacher make from his quest for wisdom (7:23-8:1)?

Other passages to consider:

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.


James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.


James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.


Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.