“Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise” (Ecclesiastes 7:16).
This is not a protest against wisdom and righteousness. It is telling
us that, in our wisdom and righteousness, we must not become proud like
the Pharisees. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Without love, everything else is nothing. We must never forget this.
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8).
Where our wisdom (or knowledge) and righteousness become centred on
ourselves - ‘How wise and righteous I have become’, we have closed our
hearts to God. Listen to God. Learn from Him. Live for Him. Real wisdom
has nothing to do with self-centredness. It’s all about learning to be
Christ-centred. Real wisdom leads to true righteousness. It’s about
learning to become like Jesus. We look to Him and we learn to live for
Him.
" ... Will you ... come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, We are safe" - safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 7:8-11). “God demands a conversion of the mind and heart as the basis of peace and security (cf. Is 26:3), not the superstitious veneration of a stone building or a traditionally sacred site” ( R K Harrison , Jeremiah ).
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