This devotion comes from Extra Devotions, one of FMM's free Ebooks.
It’s better to do the Hard Stuff
“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the
house of feasting: for that is
the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is
better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made
better. The heart of the wise is
in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”
Ecclesiastes
7:2-4 (KJV)
This
Scripture presents a mindset that is a polar opposite of what we often hear in
America. We hear the message of just live and enjoy life! Smile more and don’t
think too hard. The Word declares a different message right here, though. Read
the verses above again slowly.
“It is
better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting.” That
Scripture has impacted me big time as a young Christian man. I have seen two
applications which I’d like to share with you. 1) Is it really better to just
feast on life or to consider and contemplate some of its hardships like death. If
death comes so quickly, how should I live my life? Should I really just not
stress about the small stuff, or is the small stuff what determines whether
I’ll ever make it to the big stuff (faithfulness principle, Luke 16:10)? While
almost everyone young seems to cheer, “just have fun and experience life!”
think about your actions. Look at what Ecclesiastes 11:9, 12:1(KJV) say:
“Rejoice,
O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy
youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but
know thou, that for all these things
God will bring thee into judgment. . . . Remember now thy Creator in the days
of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, I have no pleasure in them”
2) Going to a funeral may actually be for
your benefit. Preachers know that at a funeral many more people are open to
Christ that may be very stubborn at other times; the reason is because the
people are considering death and its reality right then. Eternity seems much
closer.
Another point on funerals: even as a
Christian, I was impacted by going to a couple of funerals. This verse was in
my mind around those times and the tragedies that had occurred also brought
many to the side of the family and the sharing of the impact that the deceased
had made on other’s lives. I was speechless and struck to the heart—life is so
fleeting and next to accepting Christ, reaching and touching others lives with
Him is very important.
What we have looked at today is probably not
the most encouraging, but it is the Word. Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, may You speak to us by Your Holy
Spirit who You said will lead us into all truth (John 16:13) and give us
insight into what we should do with what we have read. Lord, may every heart be
receptive and moldable to Your small, still voice speaking to them. In Jesus Christ’s
Mighty Name, may these things be done. Amen.
