Why More Knowledge Won’t Make You Happier | Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

Have you ever wished you could unlearn something? Maybe it was a hard truth about the world, the weight of responsibility, or the painful realization that life doesn’t always go the way we hope. The more we know, the heavier life can feel. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, felt this deeply. He pursued wisdom relentlessly, but instead of bringing him peace, it left him burdened.

Welcome to The Daily. We go through the bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, every single day.

Our text today is Ecclesiastes 1:17-18.

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. — Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

Solomon devoted his life to the pursuit of understanding. He examined wisdom, madness, and folly, trying to make sense of life’s complexities. But his conclusion? The more he learned, the more frustrating and painful life became. He describes it as "striving after the wind"—chasing ideas that can never be fully grasped.

The irony is that while wisdom is valuable, it also exposes us to the brokenness of the world. The more we see, learn, and understand, the more we recognize injustice, suffering, and the limits of human control. Great wisdom doesn’t necessarily bring comfort; it often brings great sorrow because it reveals truths we’d rather ignore.

Think about it. We live in an age of excessive information, with the internet putting endless knowledge at our fingertips. And Artificial Intelligence is only accelerating this. But does faster access to more information bring peace? No—it often leads to anxiety, cynicism, and a sense of powerlessness. Yet the answer is not to reject wisdom but to ground it in the right place.

Solomon’s twelve chapters in this book illustrate that wisdom, apart from God, is meaningless. However, wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord brings true peace (Proverbs 9:10).

Do not seek wisdom apart from God—it will only lead to despair. Recognize that He holds all the answers when we do not. When you surrender your striving to Him, your despair will end, and you will find peace.

#WisdomAndSorrow, #Ecclesiastes1, #GodlyPerspective

ASK THIS:
Have you ever learned something that made life feel heavier instead of lighter?
How does today’s constant stream of information affect your peace?
Why do you think wisdom apart from God leads to despair?
What is one way you can seek wisdom while keeping your trust in God?
DO THIS:

Surrender your pursuit of wisdom to God and trust Him with the answers you cannot grasp.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, I recognize that wisdom apart from You is meaningless. Help me to trust You with the unknown and find peace in Your truth. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

God I Look To You.