Reflections with Andy - Ecclesiastes 1: 12-18 – The Folly of Wisdom?

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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