MAY 20

Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
Memorise Ecclesiastes 7:3
“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting” 

Continuing with the theme of death and life, Solomon then says that it is better to attend a funeral service (house of mourning), than a celebration party (house of feasting). This is because it is only at a solemn funeral, where one contemplates the deep things of life and death, that one will sanctify his soul, be sober and sincerely think about the meaning of life. Therefore he says in verse 3 that sorrow is better than laughter, for in this sorrow, the heart is refreshed, as it is drawn closer to God.

This does not mean that man ought always to be in a melancholic depressive state, but that the wise man will more often be in the state of reflection, contemplation and in the ‘house of mourning’. The foolish man on the other hand will only want to seek after all forms of entertainment, amusement (interesting to note that the word ‘amusement’ literally means a-muse, that is to say a lack of thinking) and mirth, not desiring to reflect and consider his own life.

And so it is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man who is constantly reflecting on his life and drawing close to God, than to hear of the laughter, jokes and merrymaking of the foolish, for their sound is compared to the crackling of burning sticks under a pot – noisy, temporal, and will soon be burnt up!

As youths, we are often seeking after times of partying and merrymaking. We are constantly craving for that next exciting event, or that next time where we can meet up with our friends for a good time of jesting and entertainment. In the midst of all this fun, do you ever pause to reflect and contemplate about your life? Do you spend time in quiet meditation to draw near to the Lord? Do you have moments of solemn sobriety whereby you mourn over your sins and your waywardness, and come penitential before the Lord to ask for forgiveness of sin? It may not seem natural for a youth to seek after sorrow and the house of mourning, but this is the wisdom of God that tells us to do so!

Thought: Quiet contemplation is better than noisy revelry. 
Prayer: Lord, may You help me to reflect upon my life, to understand the seriousness of sins, and the importance of repentance.