Ecclesiastes 7:1-13
Review for a moment your own personal history and pick out the top three most positively impactful experiences you’ve had, those things that changed you for the better and taught you good, solid life lessons, those things that brought you significantly closer to God. If we are truly honest in making our lists, my guess is that they are dominated by what most would call “tragedy”, with Death himself knocking on the door of many, if not most, of those experiences.
And that is what we see in the first few verses of today’s reading:
- Death over birth (Ecc. 7:1)
- Mourning over feasting (Ecc. 7:2)
- Sorrow over laughter (Ecc. 7:3)
- Sadness over gladness (Ecc. 7:3)
- Mourning over mirth (Ecc. 7:4)
- Rebuke over song (Ecc. 7:5)
It is not that the Preacher has some morbid preference for depression. No. He just recognizes that the truly valuable lessons of life are learned when we realistically face cold hard truth — particularly the truth of death. Meanwhile, we tend not to learn much of anything of real value at parties. “But,” one might say, “the rest of the Bible tells us to be joyful.” Indeed it does, but that joy comes at a dear cost, the Cross of Christ. Until we take that Cross seriously, with all the mourning, sadness, and sorrow, we will never learn what joy really is.
Probably, the most impactful moment in my life came from remorse or guilt. I had, as a young fellow, made a misrepresentation that I immediately regretted. After owning up to my mistake, I was drawn closer to the Lord in my prayers for His forgiveness. It only took that one misstep, early in life, to keep me on the right path from then on. It was the most valuable lesson of my life, and I still pray to God for His forgiveness.
Thanks for sharing that, Tom.
Well, John, I seldom dispute with you, but I found that my three or four turnaround events were all positive, essentially from neutral or good to better, the first being my own born-again moment and the second being the exact minute that I fell in love with Carol.
Ever the cheery optimist!
When I look back I’m so very grateful for the things I have suffered. Many of the early circumstances of my own doing brought me to Christ through the conviction of sin. He changed my heart and set my feet on His path. I then found myself living in circumstances that were hard and hurtful at times as God does not change the consequences of our living outside of Him. Yet I am so grateful for them all. It has driven me to Him. Had those things not occurred I could have easily been a product of this world. Early on in my walk one of my favorite scripture verses was Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB) I’ve clung to that verse many a time.
You’re right John, we should be participating in this reading of scripture together. It does build community and hopefully will bring glory to the One we all love!
Good, solid life lessons…
At a very young age, I was caught using my BB gun improperly by shooting at our neighbor’s cows. No, the cows weren’t hurt or injured. Yes, I got caught. My father made me go to our neighbor and apologize in person for what I had done, telling him I wouldn’t do that again. Although angry, my neighbor eventually forgave me. It was my first real taste of forgiveness that has stuck with me through the years. Some years later, this same neighbor was instrumental in introducing me to Jesus. It was my first introduction into Christianity and it came about through forgiveness… How Christ-like was that?!? The years followed and it was the same neighbor (a “shade-tree mechanic”) who let me help him fix cars, teaching me as I got my hands dirty, loving me anyway even though I had BB-gunned his cows earlier. This lesson truly DID stick with me!