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For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.  
Ecclesiastes 1:18

You don’t see this verse on many church message signs or thrown around in “inspirational” emails.  There are hundreds of similar Bible verses that seem to be ignored because they may not convey the contentment we, as Christians, generally feel.

However I find the above verse to be SO true!  Not because I am wise in the sense of the modern term of ‘wise’, but considering in ancient times the term was applied to experience (age) then I am becoming a real sage.   ;D (I turned 50 last month.)  

Even though this verse may be considered “dark” or “troubling” I find it very comforting.  It has to do with my daughter making the same mistakes I did at her age, and realizing that at the advent of human feelings other fathers felt the same as I do now.  God has been dealing with mans' sorrow and grief since Adam!  Knowing that God has a lot of experience in dealing with fathers like me makes it much easier to let go and give the problem to God.  

Are there similar verses in the bible – verses not deemed “printable by Hallmark” – that are inspirational to you?  Do you have an “Ignored Bible Verse” that helps you along during troubling times?  Which, how and why?

God Bless!
JN

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

For when I am feeling down, and troubled. This verse reminds me to hand, the troubles to God. For i have found that, God calms me, and returns my peace.

Your brother in Christ.
Bob

2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

Hey Judgenot,

Ahhh the fifties gallery. I have you bested by 2 years…”sage+” I should imagineJ

I have often considered a number of scriptures that seem to be mostly ignored. What is worse is when a scripture is explained away or put in the “well that was a different culture” category or some other nonsense.

There are a number of these verses I could share, but to be brief and to politely join your interesting thread, here is a couple with the "which, how and why(s)":

Which: Matt 7:22-23

22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(KJV)

How and why: The troubling times brought into focus by this passage are the times we live in. This word cannot be speaking of other than “many” who must have called themselves “Christians”
i.e. they were quick to recommend themselves by all the things they had done ”in His name”.

The help I receive is to be pointed to the central issue of Christ’s response: “I never knew you”.
In this we are given to know what it is that matters most to Him…relationship, intimacy. All the doing is secondary and ,really, incidental to our having valued the “knowing” above all else. “and this is life eternal; that they may know thee….”.


Which: Matt 18:3-4

3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
(KJV)


How and why: our culture stresses so powerfully that we must be strong, independent, self actualized, self realized, ad nauseum.

Again in this passage the Lord holds forth a critical matter; our entering the kingdom hinges on what is said here. We certainly can’t exert any effort to fulfill this requirement other than to humble ourselves, but praise God! the provision is made: Gal 4:6

6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (KJV)


Here is part of a study of the word “abba” from Vines:

ABBA

   abba ^5^ is an Aramaic word, found in <Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15> and <Gal. 4:6>. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father,……… Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust;[/u]
(underline mine)

I am helped again and again to know that I have The One in me and I am in The One who makes me “a little child”.

Agape
Bairn

The knowledge that opened Adam and Eve's eyes brought them great grief.  

Another one that people ignore:

Malachi 3:6  "I the Lord do not change."  God keeps His covenants even when we don't and sin greatly.  The people who are always complaining that the church needs to change and allow immoral behaviours needs to study this one.  

Don't you think that the wiser and more knowledgeable one becomes the more sorrow and grief shows itself to that one's mind. Through wisdom and knowledge it comes to know what is right, how to exercise right with wisdom. Then grieves and sorrows because it can now see the wrongs that prevail and dominate over right. At least in the Biblical sense of wisdom and knowledge.

A verse I do not see very much, but helps me to keep my perspective when at times I seem to do what Christ says in the verse.

 Matthew 23:24.  "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

ollie

(Sorry if this belongs in the 'prayer' section but I thought it related to the topic)

One thing I've learned over the years is that greater awareness of God's presence in our lives can lead to a dichotomy of greater peace and increased anxiety. The difference is that one comes from God and the other from ourselves.

There have been times when my prayer life and devotion to God have been very intense and deeply spiritual. These periods tend to come and go but my experiences in those days and weeks I'll never forget. There is a clear sense of greater peace and comfort with one's life. I'd call it an acceptance of God's hand as He moves us in His ways. The difficulty is that with this increased awareness or intesified communion comes a greater awareness of sin as well, not just in the world but most especially in ourselves. It only makes sense that the more aware we become of God's presence in our lives, the more aware we become of how we are ignoring Him. The anxiety this generates is not so much born out of a need for forgiveness as it is a shamefulness at how we, who deserve nothing could be given everything and yet continue to behave the way we do. For me, the result was that even the smallest elements of my life were undergoing self-examination. On the surface this might seem like 'worrying too much,' but I learned and continue to believe that this sort of self-scrutiny was what God desires of us all. I can testify that I have experienced no greater sense of communion with God than at those times I was most aware of my own sinfullness.

Job 2:10

I've always liked this verse, but it seems like people don't mention it as much as they mention 1:21. This verse sort of portrays typical human selfishness. We expect good from God, yet won't accept it when God gives us bad, too. It's a good lesson on pride, too.

Matt 5:37

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
KJV


 ;D