What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 10:15? The toil “Toil” speaks of labor that demands energy and focus. Scripture esteems diligent work—“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart” (Colossians 3:23)—yet here Solomon highlights labor that is fruitless. It pictures someone exerting himself but getting nowhere, a wheel spinning in mud. In Proverbs 13:4 we read, “The soul of the diligent is fully satisfied,” implying that toil can be rewarding, but only when directed by wisdom. of a fool A “fool” in biblical terms isn’t merely an uninformed person; he actively rejects God’s wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Ecclesiastes 10:3 notes, “Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking.” His worldview is self-centered rather than God-centered, so his choices, priorities, and labor are fatally misaligned. wearies him Because the fool’s work lacks godly purpose, it drains instead of fulfills. The weight of his own folly saps strength—think of Proverbs 26:11 where repeating mistakes is compared to a dog returning to its vomit. Effort minus wisdom equals exhaustion without progress, much like Israel’s idolatrous labor described in Isaiah 55:2: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” for he does not know Ignorance here is willful. Jeremiah 5:4 laments, “They are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD.” God continually offers light (Psalm 119:105), but the fool chooses darkness. His lack of knowledge is not due to God’s silence; it is the result of stubborn refusal to listen. the way to the city In ancient times a city represented safety, community, and opportunity. Roads to a major city were obvious; missing them exposed a person’s sheer incompetence. Spiritually, Hebrews 13:14 reminds us, “For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are seeking the one to come.” The fool can’t even find the temporal city, let alone the eternal one. Contrast this with Isaiah 35:8, which promises a clear “Way of Holiness” for the redeemed. Wisdom stands at the city gates calling (Proverbs 8:1-3), yet the fool remains lost outside. summary Ecclesiastes 10:15 paints a vivid warning: energy expended apart from God’s wisdom leads to exhaustion and failure. The fool’s problem isn’t lack of effort; it’s lack of direction. True fulfillment comes when labor is guided by the clear path God provides, leading not only to earthly fruitfulness but ultimately to the eternal city prepared for those who walk in His ways. |
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