Day 160, June 9 Bible more

Death and Destiny One of Solomon’s life lessons concerns death. Ecclesiastes 7:1 says something surprising about death: A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth” (NIV). We recoil at the first reading of those words, don't we? How can Solomon say the day of death is better than the day of birth? King Solomon wrote poetically, comparing a good name in the first poetical phrase with death in the second phrase. In other words he is saying to die with a good name is better than just being born to live, which is sweet fragrance in itself like perfume. Now his words make more sense. How do we wish to die—just having lived, or with a good name so that many people will want to come to our funeral? Chapter 7:2-4 (NIV) continues the theme of the final destiny of mankind. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. This is another startling comparison. What Solomon means is that in the house of mourning (a place where loved ones grieve the dead), people give thought to how they might live out the rest of their days. Contrasted with the house of mourning is the house of feasting. While Solomon is not condemning feasting (the Israelites had many ceremonial and jovial feasts during the year), he is talking about those who are continually feasting and living the lives of fools (“the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure”). What Solomon expresses in the above verses parallels what Moses wrote in Psalm 90:12 (NIV), “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” It is good to take stock of our lives occasionally. Are we following the right paths and striving for the right things? Are we building relationships with people which will last for eternity? Are we working too much or not enough? What kinds of investments are we making in life, and what will be the likely returns? Are we developing godly character, or are we living for pleasure like fools? Thinking about our own mortality often causes us to adjust our course in life. Death is very sobering. “The destiny of the ungodly is destruction [hell], their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19). The destiny of the follower of Christ is different. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20, NIV). Let us take thought in times of sorrow and live for our Savior.

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