Ecclesiasticus 11:1 A poor man with wisdom can hold his head high and take his seat among the great.
2 Do not overrate one man for his good looks or be repelled by another man's appearance.
3 The bee is small among winged creatures, yet her produce takes first place for sweetness. 4 Do not pride yourself on your fine clothes or be haughty when honours come to you; for the Lord can perform marvels which are hidden from the eyes of men.
5 Many kings have been reduced to sitting on the ground, while a mere nobody has worn the crown.
6 Many rulers have been stripped of their honours, and great men have found themselves at the mercy of others.
Thou shall not see with normal, materialistic eyes. Thous shall look at the world not as the rest of the world sees it but as God sees it. The Ecclesiastes author might tell you to not overrate someone because there'll be a season where their beauty will go away. Kings may have been made to sit on the ground because it was just a time to sit on the floor as opposed to a time to sit on the throne. However, this is the writer of Ecclesiasticus and this author is much more concerned with what is wise.
That is why this author starts off with the richest person in the pericope. A poor man with wisdom is a sage character in literature throughout history. Lao Tzu, Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, even Christ; these days we think you can't be a holy man full of prophecy and wisdom without smelling like the beasts of the field. I know Mohammed wasn't always dirty, but he received the Koran in the wilderness, right? Buddha rejected all the world's creature comforts(including toilets(I know toilets weren't invented yet, it's just a silly example.)). This is what great philosophers and meta-physicians do. They sit under the stars and think. Theirs, according to this passage, is true wealth.
So who cares if Brad Pitt looks more handsome than I do in a tux? Or in any clothes whatsoever? Or not in clothes whatsoever?(Verse 2) Okay, yes all women care, but should I? I seek wisdom.
Who cares that the bee isn't as big as the eagle? Who cares that no one ever pointed out the pretty bee like they do the pretty jay or robin? Maybe the lark or dove isn't batted at by everyone who ever sees one unlike the bee. However, honey IS sweet. Ain't ever seen a farmer of peacocks but a lot of people keep bees. (verse 3)
Who cares if you are rich of bank and house and car? Who cares if there are more bills in your wallet than there are cobwebs in most? So your shirts are from Italy, suits are from England, and your lapel pins are diamond? Who cares that you have a sports car for every day of the month. Who cares if you're a 1%-er?(verse 4) I still seek wisdom.
Wisdom in comparison to that is dross. Wisdom is a kingdom that cannot fail to defend itself. Wisdom is the finest duds you could ever drape yourself in. Wisdom is the sweetest fruit you can labor to produce. Wisdom is sexier than Brad Pitt. (Too bad for me Brad Pitt has enough wisdom to keep his considerable advantage in the handsome/wisdom race a run away victory. I have to guess that if he was without wisdom then...)
Wisdom is more than reignments, but it IS the Emperor's finest uniform. Wisdom is more than luxury, but it IS the opulence. Wisdom is more than beauty, but it IS a vision. Will you seek wisdom before a 401K? Will you seek wisdom before stuff? Will you seek wisdom before extras?
In the comments say something that you will do to seek wisdom before seeking something that is, in effect, superfluous. Don't cheat; it must be something superfluous that you were going to get and try to redefine what actually is superfluous to yourself.
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