Articles
Excessive Righteousness
The Bible sometimes makes surprising statements, causing us to “scratch our heads.” A prime example is Ecclesiastes 7:16’s caution, “Do not be excessively righteous.” Is that even possible? What is that? What is the problem?
Context
The broad context is the book of Ecclesiastes’ theme, all is vanity. Life “under the sun” (that is, apart from spiritual considerations and divine revelation, life merely as we can observe it) is empty. It often does not go as we expect or wish.
In the immediate context, the Preacher has just noted a case in point: “I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness” (v. 15). Is that fair? Not in man’s way of thinking!
Text
Two warnings follow the Preacher’s observation. First, “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?” (v. 16). Second, “Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” (v. 17).
Meaning
Notice the links: righteousness is connected to wisdom, whereas wickedness is connected to folly. Earlier, the Preacher observed that “wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness” (2:13). Yet despite its many practical advantages, wisdom offers no ironclad guarantee of longer life.
Someone might conclude that the righteous man who died early was not righteous enough; one needs to be “super-righteous.” That quest inevitably leads to overemphasizing some requirements, resulting in a ostentatious display of one’s rightness. Or, it may lead to asceticism, wherein one misguidedly cuts off legitimate pleasures in hope of spiritual greatness (see Colossians 2:20-23). Excessive righteousness ends up making rules that God did not and degenerates into self-righteousness. The preacher says it is ruinous.
Someone else might conclude from the “untimely” deaths of these two that it makes no difference how we live; therefore, he plunges headlong into wickedness. That will more likely hasten death and will bring its own consequences in the meantime (remember 2:13).
In both warnings, the Preacher is cautioning against running to extremes. In neither case does his warning imply that just a little is okay: that a minimal effort at being righteous is sufficient, or that wickedness is no concern as long as it doesn’t get out of hand.
“It is good that you grasp one thing and not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them” (v. 18).
