By Ken Blue
“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” Ecclesiastes 9:13-18.
This little story or parable illustrates the superiority of practical wisdom over physical strength. There is much in the story that is left untold. One is left to wonder why the great king came against the city, and what the poor wise man said or did to save it.
There was obviously something the king wanted, or he would not plan an attack against it. Also, there was something the wise man did or said that caused the king to change his mind. What this was, we are not told.
I am reminded of a story that deals with such wisdom, as told by the Lord Jesus. One line in it says, “Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” Luke 14:32. I believe this wise man went out and reasoned with the king in such a way, the king changed his plans.
To me, one thing is certain, wisdom is better than war, and wisdom is usually demonstrated in quiet diplomacy. The wisdom in this story is an act of practical wisdom, which so many of us lack. There are pastors who think they are not severing God unless they have a war going on all the time. They stir it up, to win an argument, or appear as leaders. I am well aware that we are soldiers, and there is a time for war and a time for peace. But let wisdom guide you in your choice.
My advice to pastors is to avoid every fight you possibly can. Stop purposefully being controversial. Solomon says, “: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” The sinner could be the pastor, and the sin could be the sin of ignorance. You don’t have to be remembered for your wisdom, but you do need wisdom to rescue your church from destruction.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.