Here's a somewhat strange verse:
Ecclesiastes 7:2 "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."
On its surface you would think "a place of feasting would be a place of joy and happiness while a place of mourning would be full of sadness and grief - why on earth would I go there?"
I had an unusual experience that sheds some light on this. Recently I found out that a colleague had contracted brain cancer. The man was an intellectual and far from God and far from even being open to hearing about sin and salvation through Jesus Christ.
I told the man's boss that he might become more open as his day of death approached. Sure enough, as the days on this earth grew short, the man suddenly not only became open but he received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.
Now imagine that place where he will soon die. It will be a house of mourning, but in that mourning will be great joy because now instead of an uncertain future this man's family will know where he is going - to heaven.
Sometimes the house of feasting attempts to hide an inner need. Better to be in a place where there is honest appraisal of reality rather than a cover up.
Pastor Tom
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2 comments:
Hey Pastor Tom -
I'm glad you brought this one up. It's my favorite verse in the entire Bible, and I've mentioned it to more than one unbeliever, helping at least to spark some curiosity in the Bible. Your take on it was new, one I'd never seen before. Thank you.
My take on it is like this: when you're at a "house of feasting" (such as a party), there are plenty of opportunities to sin (especially for those in the teenage/college age crowd). The conversation tends to get a little more relaxed (and ultimately inappropriate), there are usually alcoholic beverages, or worse yet, illegal drugs in the vicinity. With members of the opposite sex around, there is of course the possibility of sexual immorality, and of course, boatloads of opportunity for other stupid, dangerous, embarrassing and immoral behavior. Spending time in the "house of feasting" can definitely bring you farther away from God.
However, when you're at a "house of mourning" (a funeral), you realize that sooner or later, it'll be your turn (hopefully later, of course). These thoughts help to bring one closer to their maker. Such contemplative thoughts may not necessarily bring one into a relationship with Jesus Christ immediately, but it can sure point them that much closer.
Great thoughts, Bobby - and I think you are right. Sometimes it takes a while for the reality of death to sink in, but once it does the heart becomes more open to thinking about eternity and what happens after I die and "will I go to heaven?"
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