The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd. Of anything beyond these, beware. Of making many books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecclesiastes 12:11,12 (NRSV)
When I was growing up one of my Sunday School teachers cited this verse constantly as a means of cautioning her students against some of the things being taught in the public schools. While there is validity to her point, she carried it to the extreme by saying that we couldn’t trust doctors because much of their research and training was based on the theory of evolution!
I recently heard similar sentiments expressed on so-called Christian radio. But is this really what the writer is getting at in this verse? Is he really saying that we shouldn’t at least have a nodding acquaintance with current theories and trends?
I think what the writer is saying is that we need to realize that while the world around us is changing, we must never lose sight of the fact that certain values and standards are universal and must be accepted on faith.
That’s why he says “beware”, which means to move cautiously when we are dealing with things that seem to move beyond the values and standards contained in this volume. We must always be sure that we never lose sight of the things that serve as the foundation for peace of mind and fulfillment by moving cautiously when we are confronted by ideas and theories that seem to contradict them.
--Robert D. Hidde
