Whoever Fears God Will Avoid All Extremes

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

Extremism has two ends, the very bad and the very good. Extremism is what has produced very weak people religiously for they compromise anything and everything. Extremism also produces terrorists. Any extremely good person in any religion will terrify others by their unachievable standards and expectations. Our text today warns against all extremes. This text is a conclusion built from preceding texts. To understand this text we must read the previous texts.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.

Therefore no one can discover anything about their future. God allows good times and because of sin and our bad choices, God also allows bad times. Since God allows both good times and bad times, you can’t predict the future. None of us knows whether good times are coming or bad times are coming. Even if you are righteous, bad times can and will come, so don’t be over righteous to avoid bad times, you can’t predict the future by your actions, just depend on God. Even if you are wicked, good times can and will come, do not give up and be over wicked, hoping to die like Job’s wife suggested in Job 2:9. Avoid extremes and trust God. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Ecclesiastes 7:15
In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

There is no formula to guarantee a good life. The righteous can still suffer and it happens. The wicked May enjoy when we expect them to suffer and it happens. We like formulas that have predictable results. Unfortunately, when we get a formula it replaces God. When we discover that working hard in school brings good results and a good future, hard-working immediately replaces God. Students are told to even study when they should be worshipping because the study has replaced God. When people think money is a formula for happiness they go to the extreme to make money. Spouses neglect each other to make money. Parents neglect children in order to make money. Morality is compromised to make money. Health is put at risk to make money. We always resort to extremes when we get a formula for success or when we give up. The Bible tells us no formula and therefore no extreme will always work, the opposite can happen, therefore trust God and avoid extremes. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

If your faith is in God and not in formulas, just fear God. Do your best but trust God for success. When discouraged, you may react negatively but still recover and trust God. Avoid extremes of focusing on family or neglecting family. Avoid obsession with healthful living or extreme of careless don’t care unhealthy living. Whoever fears God will trust God and not a formula. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Vegetarianism is good but don’t be extremely angry about it and eat meat excessively to see if you will die. Avoid extremes and struggle to overcome too much meat-eating. Vegetarianism is good but avoid extremes of now going green totally and making juices of tasteless vegetables etc. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Extreme action never ever produces extreme results. Extreme action may produce nothing or the opposite. Too much dedication to a lover may actually cause them to run away from you as they feel suffocated by your extreme love. Less love and attention may cause a lover to cling to you as they fear losing you or they may walk away thinking you are not serious. Extreme action never produces extreme results. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Ecclesiastes 7:16
Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?

If you are good, you are good. To be too good or more than good is no longer good. Righteous is enough. Overrighteous is no longer righteousness. Wise is enough. Over wise is no longer wise. God expects us to be good, righteous, and wise. God blesses us because He loves us and not because we are good, righteous, and wise. Even when we are good, righteous, and wise, God can still allow bad times to come to us. Therefore we can’t avoid bad times by being too good, too righteous, or too wise just trust God. God is not a human being to be awed and moved by extreme action. Over righteousness will not shock God into blessing you.

God can read your heart that you are over good because of a coming exam. You are over wise to avoid bad relationships. You are over righteous for fear of hell or to show off. Just be good, righteous, and wise, God will still bless you. Just be good, righteous, and wise, God will still allow good times and bad times to come your way. Extreme action is based on the belief that we can control the outcome, no we can’t, trust God with the outcome, and avoid all extremes. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Extremes are destructive, even extreme goodness, righteousness, and wisdom. You can be too good to marry or get married. That is why the Bible tells us, why destroy yourself by extreme righteousness and extreme wisdom? You can be extremely strict with money and die without ever enjoying life. Any extreme, even extreme good is destructive. Too many prayers without actions will bring disappointment. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Ecclesiastes 7:17
Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?

Over wicked means, you no longer care about God. Over wicked means, you are challenging God. Over wicked can result from disappointment. You expected God to reward you with good times because of extreme goodness but He didn’t, so you are angry and getting back at God by over wickedness. Over wicked means you don’t confess or repent any sins, you are actually committing the unpardonable sin. Over wickedness is an attempt to catch God’s attention by bad behavior hoping to force Him to do what we want. Over wickedness will not cause God to surrender and give in to your demands. In fact, God will kill you very soon for over wickedness, therefore the Bible asks, why die before your time.

Over wickedness is foolishness at its best. It’s harming yourself to get attention from God and others. Refusing to study to get parental attention. Refusing to eat to get the attention of your spouse. Running away from home so that you are begged to come back. Abusing drugs when an issue occurs so that you are begged to stop. Threatening suicide. Hurling unforgettable insults to a lifetime partner. Over wickedness is foolishness at its best. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Over wickedness doesn’t mean wickedness is good. To be wicked as opposed to being over wicked means we are still struggling to overcome wickedness. The over wicked have given up the struggle. The over wicked no longer pray, attend church, study the Bible, or love God. The wicked, so to speak, are still trusting God for care and to overcome wickedness. The wicked, so to speak do not like their wickedness and are working to overcome through Jesus. The over wicked gave up, they love their wickedness and won’t let it go. The over wicked no longer fear nor trust God. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

Therefore in conclusion do not be rigid. Be flexible. Expect good times and expect bad times. The only consistent thing should be your trust in God. So what are we to grasp? Are we to grasp righteousness and not let go of wickedness? Is the Bible telling us to be wicked a little bit? This argument did not begin with righteousness and wickedness, it began with the reality of good times and bad times, and that is where it concludes. According to Ecclesiastes 7:14, grasp good times by being happy and grasp bad times by understanding or learning from them. Avoid extreme reactions to good times and bad times.

Extreme reaction to bad times is over wickedness of backsliding or over righteousness to win God’s favor. Extreme reaction to good times is over righteousness in order to cause God to maintain good times or temptations to enjoy over wickedness. Grasp the good times and be happy, also grasp the bad times and learn. In all these avoid an extreme reaction. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes!

When I avoid extremes, it means my relationship with God will remain consistently the same in good times and bad times. Dear God, save me from extremes, help me to be consistent whether times are good or bad, in Jesus’ name, Amen!