I was reading about results for the Wonderlic test, which is used to assess the intelligence of quarterbacks as they prepare to enter the NFL. Here are some of the quarterbacks that scored the HIGHEST. Ryan Fitzpatrick scored a 48/50. Blaine Gabbert a 42. Alex Smith a 40. Colin Kaepernick a 38.
On the flip side, Steve Young scored a 33. John Elway a 29. Brett Favre a 22. And Dan Marino, Donovan McNabb, Jim Kelly, and Terry Bradshaw all scored a 15.
So what does this tell us? Intelligence does not always mean success as a quarterback in the NFL! And likewise, a low intelligence does not mean failure as an NFL QB.
Well Solomon didn’t know anything about football, but in Ecclesiastes, he makes the same point. He says in 7:7… Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
Solomon makes similar points throughout chapter 7. Earlier in the chapter, he says, “It is good to be wise!” But then he also points out, “Just because you are wise, does not mean you will succeed.”
One problem we have is that we lean too much on our wisdom or intelligence to make us happy. But just like with smart NFL QBs, having wisdom does not automatically mean we will be successful in this earth. Unfair things happen to wise people. Wise people still suffer. We live in a broken, fallen world, so wisdom does not mean there will be a happy (earthly) ending for us.
Now I don’t say this to depress you. I just want you to have realistic expectations. Don’t think your wisdom will lead you to a great life. It may lead you to a great job and a lot of money and success, or it may not.
The key is that we should not put our hope in it. Instead, we should put our hope in God. Solomon later says, “for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them” (7:18).
So study hard, work hard, and try to get wiser. But don’t think that wisdom is the key to success in life.
Wise Solomon had it all. He had the wisdom. He also had the pleasure, fame, success, and money. And after looking at all those things, he had one word: meaningless. It’s all meaningless.
Don’t put your hope in meaningless things. Instead, follow after God. That is the wisest thing you can do.