It is better to go to funeral than feast?

posted by: Bro. Joey Arles O. Vergara | January 26, 2023

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 [New English Translation]

¹ A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. ² It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. ³ Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. ⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

The author of Ecclesiastes is referred to as “The Preacher; the Son of David” so, the most probable candidate would be King Solomon. The book focuses on realities of physical life and the importance of clinging unto God with the following important points: God provides the necessities to live (2:24); God sees both the sinner and the righteous (2:26); God’s works are eternal (3:14); God empowers His people to enjoy His providence (5:19); God will evaluate each person’s deeds. There is better promise to those who seek and follow Him (12:13-14).

We may ask ourselves then the this questions:

1. How are you doing with the pursuits of your life?

2. Do you see the meaning and purpose of your desires? Is it while living only or does it go beyond this present life?

Going back to the verses. In verse 1, it is written that Death is better than birth. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is highly celebrated not because of His birth, but because of the message of His Death and Resurrection. I am not saying that we should get merry when a loved one dies because IT IS NEVER OKAY to mourn for someone we love. Again, it is not okay, BUT what is sure is, WE WILL BE OKAY, more importantly, we will be okay in Christ. We will be okay if we will partake the resurrection of Christ.

In verse 2, it is written that It is better to go to a funeral. When we go to funerals, we could talk about How the person have lived his/her life. Somehow, we may get inspired on how he/she have wrestled with life’s challenges. But what makes it much better is, as we are still living, we have the opportunity to have a retrospection/self-reflection. We have the opportunity to ask ourselves: When we die, what inspiration we might leave behind?

So, if you already had accepted Christ, let me encourage you to go on in your journey with the Lord. Share His love through your words, actions, and motives.

If you happen have not yet accepted nor established a good and real relationship with God and Lord Jesus Christ, make your funeral service experience a real better experience than the day you celebrate your birthday, keep asking yourself, where would you go after death? who would be your companion in eternity? Will you be with the Lord or not?

In verse 3, it is written that Sober Reflection is the best medicine. We have heared some say that “Laughter is the best medicine” ~ unknown. However, historically and theatrically speaking, most famous comedians die at early age. This is ironic in terms to the famous saying above.

Again, sorrow or grief is a reality that we are NOT OKAY. But again, IN CHRIST, WE WILL BE OKAY. In John 16:20

²⁰ I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.

These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, a comforting word to His disciples. If we are to read from verse 1 of John 16, we will see that the Lord was referring to sorrows which are inflected by people who DO NOT KNOW God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if you are mourning, let your sorrow and suffering strengthen your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, because He has proclaimed in His sermon on the Mount that “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4)

Again, if you have NOT yet established closer relationship with the Lord, I charge you to listen to what the Bible has said:

James 1:22 “But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.”

Luke 11:28 “But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

Jeremiah 33:3 “‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things that you still do not know about.’”