“Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.” Ecclesiastes 8.1
As individuals, our lives are segmented into various compartments. There is a family aspect, a health aspect, education aspect, work aspect, a wealth aspect, social aspect, then faith and belief aspect. All these are stand alone but they are also interconnected. The ability to connect them together successfully requires wisdom.
Human beings naturally are comparatively competitive. Everyone compares themselves with everyone, even though we deny it.
Our health and wealth are also dependent on our common and social harmony. If you live healthy and observe hygiene but your family members or neighbours don’t do the same, you can contact diseases through them.
Our ability to trade together is what drives our commerce and our wealth. That is why no matter how small a village is there will be a marketplace where people trade together to make wealth for individuals’ upkeep.
Solomon then said that a wise man knows the interpretation of things. This means the ability to convert something to your advantage. A wise person will study the marketplace carefully and know what to buy or sell to give them an edge and a competitive advantage over others.
Opportunities always surround us, but it requires wisdom to identify and interpret them. It also requires wisdom to convert the opportunity to wealth. Such wisdom will make the face of that person to shine. He will be outstanding and prominent among the people. This could either be because of the values and services that he provides.
“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.”(Proverbs 18.16)
The initiative is called a gift and this will upgrade the person and create a room for them above their normal level. The value they bring to the marketplace makes them to hang out with people that matter and control the market forces. That is economic empowerment which leads to prosperity, wealth and influence.
“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs 27.19
Wisdom teaches us to know how everything in life is interconnected. Solomon claims that wisdom does not only make a person’s face to shine, it also makes the hardness of his face to change. This signifies the transformative effect of wisdom on a person’s demeanor. Poverty and lack provoke anger and frustration. An hungry man is prone to be an angry man. This usually tells on the countenance.
This implies that wisdom brings a gentler, brighter, and more peaceful appearance to a person, replacing harshness, anxiety, or weariness with assurance and joy.
Also, wisdom is ability to proffer solutions to a problem. When a person has got issues and can’t seem to find the wisdom required to solve it, their countenance will be hard and unfriendly. The face is a mirror of what is inside.
The “hardness of his face” or “sternness” (Ecclesiastes 8.1b) also refers to a harsh, unfriendly, or grim appearance, and can also suggest a stubborn or uncaring attitude.
“Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!” (Psalmist 14.1 NLT).
A fool does not acknowledge God in his heart so he cannot access the peace and joy that come from the presence of God.
A fool is brutish, selfish, and uncaring, so he cannot wear a friendly and pleasant face. What is around you is a reflection of what is inside you. Wisdom softens the harshness, making a person’s face appear brighter, gentler, and more peaceful, reflecting an internal transformation.
Wisdom gives hope and makes a man acknowledge that there is no point beating yourself on what you lack the power to change but a fool will worry himself to death.
Wisdom is the principal thing, in all your getting, get understanding (Proverbs 4.7).
Prayers
- Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for your wisdom that makes my life and face shine. Thank you for the wisdom to win in life.
- Father in the name of Jesus, I receive the grace for the interpretation of the world and the opportunities around me.
- Father in the name of Jesus, through your wisdom, I have hope, joy, and peace, and the countenance of my face shall not be hard but pleasant and joyful.