所罗门曾经透过探求知识，来追求人生的快乐和满足。他在这条探究知识的道路上，一定是经年累月苦苦钻研，潜心研究大量书籍，并与许多学识渊博和满有智慧的学者，例如东方的智者讨论学问。若是在今天，他应该取得了不知多少个博士学位。当时的耶路撒冷很可能还没有大学，所以，他一定都是自学。那么，他必有严谨治学和贯彻验证的精神。

然而，他却再次来到一个「死胡同」。他获得的一切知识，都无法满足他的需要。他在本章最后一节所下的结论，令人更觉唏嘘。它令人想起圣经其他经文所道出的真理，例如诗篇一百十一篇10节说：「敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端；凡遵行祂命令的，是聪明人」。

保罗在哥林多前书一章，提出了他对世俗智慧的看法。圣经当然不是反对教育或高等教育，但是，人世间的一切学问，都无法帮助我们认识神。若有人以为世间的学问能满足他永恒的需要，他从一开始便选错了门径。

保罗给哥林多教会的书信便清楚道出这点。哥林多的信徒显然被世俗的智慧所吸引，但保罗却开宗明义地指出：「我知道，对那些在灭亡道路上奔走的人来看，十字架的信息是很愚昧的道理。然而，对我们得救的人来说，这信息却是神的大能。那么，世上的哲学家、学者和聪明的辩士又如何呢？神已经使他们变成愚拙了……」（New Living Bible中译）

只有借着基督的十架，我们才能得着救恩、满足和永生。你是否已接受耶稣基督呢？你需要今天就如此决定。

One experiment Solomon tried in his search for happiness and satisfaction was to turn to the pathway of knowledge. He must have taken months or even years to walk this pathway. He must have accumulated a huge library and talked with many brilliant learned men and women like the Magi from the East. Today he would have been awarded a Ph.D. over and over. There was probably no university then as we know it now in Jerusalem so he must have done all this by private study. His self-discipline and consistent application were remarkable.

But again he faced the same “dead end”. All that accumulated knowledge did not meet his need. The last verse of the chapter is almost tragic: It brings up the truth as in other passages in God’s Word such as Psalm 111:10, “The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow His precepts have good understanding.”

Paul had much to say in 1 Corinthians 1 concerning the wisdom of this world. The Bible is in no way opposing education or higher learning but all the philosophy of the world cannot help mankind to know God. He is beginning at the wrong place who thinks the wisdom of this world can meet his eternal need.

Paul’s words spell this out clearly. Apparently worldly wisdom had crept into the church at Corinth and Paul was writing to set the matter straight. He wrote, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognise this message as the very power of God. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish...” (New Living Bible)

The only way to salvation, satisfaction, and eternal life is through the cross of Christ. Have you taken your stand there? You need to do so-today.