
Reflections with Andy - Ecclesiastes 1: 12-18 – The Folly of Wisdom?
From Andy Talks by Andy Stoddard
May 7, 2026 · 10 min
About this episode
Andy reflects on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, exploring the paradox of wisdom and its perceived vanity.
In this Thursday reflection on Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 — appropriately falling on the National Day of Prayer — the Teacher's surprising conclusion that wisdom itself is vanity is unpacked honestly and personally. On the surface it seems to contradict Proverbs and the Psalms, which celebrate wisdom as a gift worth seeking. But Solomon's point isn't that wisdom is bad — it's that wisdom alone, pursued as a source of meaning, leaves you empty and vexed. The reflection gets personal: those of us who...
People in this episode
Host: Andy Stoddard
Topics covered
- wisdom
- vanity
- Ecclesiastes
- spiritual reflection
- meaning
- Christianity
Keywords
- wisdom
- Ecclesiastes
- spirituality
- meaning
- National Day of Prayer
- Solomon
- reflection
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Ecclesiastes
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