Friday, September 14, 2012

Why Death is Better than Birth?

Today in my devotions, I was reading Ecclesiastes 5-8. As I was reading felt the need to understand better what Solomon is telling is in Ecclesiastes 7:1-5. He writes,


1 A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. 4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools. (NASB)

This is not a up lift piece of the Bible but it does spread light into how we should look at our lives. Solomon ended chapter 6 talking about wisdom and fools. This leads to the 7:1 in say that a name is better that ointment and death is better than the beginning of life. This asks the question of why a funeral is better than a birth? This question is answered in verse 2b, "Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart." It is when someone dies that we realize that life ends. One day, we will be like the one that has not breath in their lungs. Psalm 90:12 connects this notion of realizing our days. The Psalmist says "So teach us to number our days/ that we may get a heart of wisdom." It is this reality that makes people more effective for God. It is understanding that I can not get caught up wasting time. This also means that taking a day of rest will help sustain life in the Lord. To stop work and rest in Lord to be refreshed until the final rest comes when Christ brings the new heavens and new earth.