The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

 

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

 

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.   It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.   Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

In our culture in the USA, we make a lot of the birth of a child, and yet very often death is not given much notice.  In fact, often it is about a couple of lines in the obituary.  Solomon tells us that death is better than birth, but let me share this insight if a person has not addressed this one important thing while on planet earth, death is not a good thing.

 

I was hoping you would ask, what is that one thing that changes death to a good thing, and it is called death to self, being willing to bow your knee to a Holy God and receive His love gift to you.  More questions: what is His love gift, and the answer is found in the gospel of John, chapter three verse 16.  You may want to begin in chapter one and get a clearer picture of the gift God has for you.

 

A good name is of great value, and a man who values integrity will be the kind of husband and dad to lead his family in the way they should go.  Let me end this paper with a note from my Study Bible.  “Funerals should sober us to the reality of death and encourage us to live well and happily.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice