The Doctor Is In

under the sun Ecclesiastes chapter seven VI

"Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 7:5-6).

Whether it's at school, at work, on the field, or anywhere else, no one enjoys being criticized. Yet few would disagree that certain types of criticism can often be valuable. No matter how difficult it may be to hear, good, constructive criticism from the right source can often help someone become the very best that he or she can be. Unfortunately, those who refuse to accept any type of criticism may find it difficult to grow, mature, and improve. While it may be easier to listen to those who tell us what we want to hear, "easier" does not always mean "better."

For example, the Teacher provides us with vivid word picture in the passage quoted above when he says, "The laughter of a fool is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot. Even this is pointless" (GW). If you've ever had the opportunity to start a campfire outdoors, then you may know that a thorn bush makes for a very poor fuel source. While the thorns may ignite quickly and produce lots of noise as they snap and pop, they actually create very little heat and are extinguished very quickly.

In a similar manner, the praise and laughter offered by a foolish person can be compared to a campfire fueled by a thorn bushes- there seems to be something initially but eventually you find that there's very little substance. In the words of one commentary, "...the “laughter of a fool” can be taken in both ways: (1) In comparison to the sober reflection of the wise, the laughter of fools is morally useless: the burning of thorns, like the laughter of fools, makes a lot of noise but accomplishes nothing; (2) the laughter of fools is fleeting due to the brevity of life and certainty of death" ₍₁₎

Another foolish characteristic is mentioned next...

"Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:7).

The "bribe" mentioned above refers to the inducement that's offered to prompt someone to say or do something that's favorable to another. In many instances, this can mean substituting the truth for something else. So while it's been said that "money talks," the language spoken by a bribe is often just a lie.

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