Life and Death - Ecclesiastes 7:1-25

INTRO

Do you remember when you were younger and life had no consequences cause you thought you’d live forever.

Jumping off balcony on a stack of pillows

Why girls live longer video - a group of guys jumping on each other on a rope swing.

We laugh but those of us who are older know why that’s not wise.

We have the prospective of life to know you could get hurt or worse you could die.

Today we come to a passage that is something most of us would like to avoid.

The stark reality of death.

We keep trying to live our lives and the preacher from Ecclesiastes is like the guy starting a meeting by saying, “Hey everyone before we get started I want us to all remember we are all gonna die one day and none of this really matters.”

It’s really intense.

Big Idea: Let death focus your life towards eternity with Christ.

In the heart of Ecclesiastes, we're confronted with a stark truth:

we can't control life, no matter how hard we try.

Faced with this, we have two reactions.

One path is escapism, where we drown our confusions and sorrows in distractions, hoping to forget.

It's tempting, but it's temporary.

Eventually we can’t escape death and tragedy.

The preacher points to another path: wisdom.

Wisdom calls us to walk with understanding amidst life's chaos.

But the preacher shows us that we have to look beyond our capability and wisdom.

We have to look outside of ourselves for understanding.

This passage tells us: don't run from reality, but also don't assume you know it all.

Life will always surprise us.

We might think we've figured things out, but life can change in an instant.

The beauty of Ecclesiastes 7 is its call to accept life with all its mysteries, to find joy in the journey, and to embrace a life that’s humbly guided, not controlled.

It’s a call to be anchored in Christ.

Let’s get uncomfortable together shall we?

1. What Death Can Teach (v. 1-6)

Verse 1:

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)

A good name is better than precious ointment,

and the day of death than the day of birth.

Life has an expiration date.

That's the raw truth from these verses.

But there's more.

Here is what I want to say to you. If you follow Jesus.

Can you lay down your hesitation to talk about these hard things.

1 Cor 15 tells us that death has lost it’s sting.

A. Begg - Like a parent who sticks their hand out in front of the bee, Jesus has taken the sting of death for us.

That bee can buzz about. Death can make it’s noise, but what can it do?

Instead of dreading death, what if we saw it as a mentor?

Death isn’t just the end—it's a wake-up call.

It asks us, "Are you really living?"

Death, it turns out, is a profound teacher.

It looks straight at us and asks, “What are you doing with your life? Are you really living?”

It’s easy to miss in the hustle of life, but it’s a question worth our attention.

“Am I really living?”

Look at what the Preacher says: “A good name is better than precious ointment” (v. 1).

It's simple but powerful.

Being real, being kind, being someone others trust—that’s valuable. More than any luxury or status.

And then, he drops a bomb: “the day of death [is better] than the day of birth” (v. 1).

Wait, what?

How can the end be better than the beginning?

Birth is full of joy, hope, endless possibilities.

That is what the preacher is trying to get us to see.

Possibilities.

But for the one who lives wisely

Death, especially for those who know Christ, is the moment of ultimate fulfillment.

It’s when the journey of potential meets the reality of God’s promises.

Potential is exciting, but fulfillment?

That's the real deal.

So, as odd as it sounds, death teaches us to live—really live.

Knowing the reality of the end shows us not to chase stuff that fades but to chase authenticity, to build a legacy, to find joy in the journey.

Because in the end, that’s what leads us to true fulfillment.

There's a unique lesson the Preacher is driving at here: The day we breathe our last teaches us more than the day we took our first breath.

Think about it: At birth, what can we truly say about a child?

Maybe, "She has her mother's eyes."

That’s about the depth of it.

But fast-forward to her last day, perhaps at eighty-six.

What narratives form then?

“She radiated Jesus.”

“She overflowed with kindness.”

Or:

“She loved her garden.”

“She cherished those bingo nights.”

Or even, somberly:

“She mostly loved herself.”

It’s not that death is superior to life—it definitely isn't.

It's that a life lived leaves a story behind, while a life just begun is a story just beginning.

At the end, we see the values, passions, and choices made crystal clear.

And that’s the Preacher’s point: A coffin speaks volumes more than a cradle.

Here’s a little project to do.

Take what ever age you are and subtract it from seventy-nine.

That will leave you X number of years that you have left.

Multiply the number of years times 365 because that tells you how many days you have left on average.

Then take some sheets of paper and cut them into squares.

Number these squares and let them represent your days, which are numbered.

Every day, take a slip, ball it up, and toss it in the trash can.

That little exercise will remind you that your stack is getting shorter.

Time is running out.

Whatever you plan on doing for the glory of God and the kingdom of God, you need to get around to it.

Only one life will soon be passed; only what’s done for Christ will last.

At life's close, the trivial fades and what truly mattered stands out.

What legacy did we leave?

Whose lives did we touch?

Where did we invest our love?

The challenge is direct: “Look ahead. Don’t mask life's pains. Envision your final day and ask: Who do I want to be?”

Because someday, that day will come.

Look at Ecclesiastes 7:2 and 4

Ecclesiastes 7:2 (ESV)

It is better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for this is the end of all mankind,

and the living will lay it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 (ESV)

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

At a funeral, there's two types of people.

One's mind is wandering how can we get out of here.

They are already thinking about something else, the next escape.

The other? They see themselves in that coffin in their mind, wrestling with a haunting question: "Is this it? Is this my legacy?"

What am I leaving behind, what really matters?

The Preacher's been there.

He's seen the parties, the distractions.

But how often do those moments really get us asking the deep, raw questions about our purpose?

Pleasures? They fade.

A funeral? It’s a reality check.

A call to face the Gospel truth.

Because if the Gospel means anything, it means our time here is just a prelude.

It's not about being somber. It’s about true depth.

When you face the end, the everyday becomes precious.

The Gospel isn’t just a story—it’s a perspective shift.

It says: Death isn’t the end, but it sure clarifies things.

Have you met those who lived this way?

Living every day as a gift, knowing it's borrowed time?

They get it.

The shadow of the cross, the weight of eternity—it brings clarity.

We have to see the reality of death and the call to live for Christ.

To see that our moments are brief.

Now I get it, this can all feel a little esoteric. What do you want me to do?

Application

1. Legacy Inventory

2. Deeper Conversations

Legacy Inventory

Take a few minutes to jot down what you'd want to be remembered for. Now compare that list to your daily routine. Are your daily activities steering you towards that legacy? Are there activities or habits that you're clinging to that don't align with a meaningful life? Maybe it's time to let go of those and focus on what truly matters.

Most importantly, let this reflection lead you back to the cross. The inevitability of death gives the gospel its urgency and weight. In Christ, our finite lives find eternal significance. Let the reality of mortality push you closer to the eternal hope we have in Jesus.

Deeper Conversations

Engage in more meaningful conversations. Next time you're with a friend or loved one, instead of defaulting to casual banter, ask deeper questions: "What do you want to be remembered for?" or "How are you intentionally living today?"

2. The Balance of Wisdom (v.7-25)

The Preacher is pulling us into a journey—a journey where we’re asked to see wisdom not just as knowledge but as balance.

Yes, he tried, like many of us, to dissect the world through wisdom's lens.

And what did he find? Mysteries, unanswered questions, tangled webs (v. 23).

Now this a call to reject of wisdom.

Instead, it's a call to see wisdom in its true light.

He gives us four examples: extortion, impatience, anger, and nostalgia.

Death has something to teach us about all of these things

We’ll look at the first three briefly and linger more over the fourth.

Money.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 (ESV)

Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Friends, there's a whisper of caution here.

The Preacher tells us to guard against the siren call of money (v. 7).

Wisdom, as pure as it may seem, isn't immune from corrosion.

Just like metal rusts, wisdom can be tainted.

Think about it: when dollar signs dance before our eyes, even the wisest can falter.

We've all heard it said, "Everyone has a price."

But today, the Preacher challenges us, urging us: defy that saying!

Refuse to be someone with a price tag. And if money tries to tug at your heartstrings, take a walk to the funeral home.

Reflect.

What will that extra cash do when you are in the grave? Let the shadow of your death be your shield against greed.

Patience.

Ever started something with enthusiasm, only to abandon it halfway?

The Preacher nudges us to consider the beauty of completion (v. 8).

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,

and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

There's a rhythm to life, to projects, to love—to everything.

Anything valuable requires patience.

It demands its season to blossom. Honor that process.

Give it the time it needs.

Do we want out kids to remember us as always crunched for time, never still, rushing everywhere?

Death tells you to slow down. Put the phone down. Turn the tv off.

Be still. Be patient

Anger.

We all have those moments where our fuse is just a tad too short.

But the Preacher's got some insight: take the long view (v. 9).

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,

for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Got frustrations?

Think about that inevitable final day.

Let it simmer in your mind.

Then ask: is exploding in anger really worth it?

If you're quick to rage, you’re missing the point.

Let the inevitable silence of the grave teach you the value of a calm heart today.

Nostalgia

Look at verse 10

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV)

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Nostalgic sentiments like, “Things aren’t like they used to be,” or, “Why is the world getting so bad?” permeate our culture.

But the gospel reminds us to find our hope not in the past or the present, but in Jesus.

If you're consumed by nostalgia, are you possibly forgetting God's purpose in your present? (SLOW…PAUSE)

By asking why the past was better, you might be unintentionally neglecting God's plan and presence right now.

It's easy to forget the evil of the past and overlook the good of the present.

In Charles Schultz’s famous Peanuts comic strip the little dog Snoopy is recalling the past.

“I remember those summer evenings years ago at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm.

We used to sit around and sing while someone strummed a banjo.”

After a long sigh Snoopy sits up and says, “Actually, that’s not true. No one knew how to play the banjo and we didn’t exactly sing. We just howled a lot!”

The cartoon brings to mind the old saying, “Things aren’t the way they used to be — and they never were!”

Too many of us are living in the past; a past that memory has romanticized and that may never have been as great as we remember it.

In any case, the past must always be the foundation upon which we build in the present for the sake of the future.

Many forms of escapism entice us: materialism, impatience, anger, and of course, nostalgia.

(NOSTALGIA RULES - Redux movies, Bands reuniting. Who thought Creed would be everywhere in 2023?!?!)

Instead of facing our present with faith, we often retreat into an idealized past.

C. S. Lewis once painted a poignant picture of nostalgia.

He mentioned that our yearnings, often anchored in the past, aren't really for bygone times.

Instead, they hint at a deep, eternal longing placed in our hearts by God.

The beauty we remember, the past memories, are mere echoes of a future perfection we've yet to see.

What our hearts actually ache for isn’t the past; it's a future

A future with Jesus in eternity

Ecclesiastes tells us that God has etched eternity in our hearts.

Those fleeting moments of nostalgia? They're glimpses of our eternal dwelling.

True wisdom doesn't lie in dwelling on the past but in letting those feelings point us toward God and our heavenly home.

When nostalgia knocks, let it redirect your gaze not to a glorified past but to Jesus, our eternal hope and future.

He’s the true home our hearts yearn for.

Wisdom has its merits, sure.

It can guide us in finances, patience, managing anger, and even dealing with nostalgia.

But it's limited.

It can't explain every divine mystery or the reasons behind life's inequalities.

That’s really what he says throughout the rest of chapter 7.

Don’t be overly self-righteous. That doesn't work, you can’t merit your way through life.

Then he summarizes everything in verses 23-25 the preacher

He confess how difficult it is to think and act wisely, no matter how much we know some mysteries will we will never understand.

Only God holds those answers.

While wisdom can be a tool to navigate life, remember, it isn’t an end in itself.

The ultimate wisdom is to trust God, who knows all things completely.

Lean not on your own understanding but in Him.

Let death show you the call to be dependent.

Conclusion

Really this chapter is the preacher looking at our lives saying.

There are so many things we can look to.

Whether we try and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps being overly wise

Or we pine for by gone moments.

We are all looking for something to answer life’s questions.

The scientist who believes only in the tangible and teaches that our existence is just a brief moment in evolutionary time, concluding in extinction, has a question to answer.

How can they explain the innate, deep-seated sense of eternity that reverberates in the hearts of humans everywhere?

Time and time again, individuals across the ages have been driven by thoughts of what lies beyond our mortal existence.

The Bible gives us the straightforward answer: God has instilled a sense of eternity in us.

We are made of both the tangible and intangible –

As one pastor said we are a paradox of mortal dust that dares to dream, hope, and look beyond the confines of time.

In the vast landscape of existence, many feel as if they're piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, with missing pieces lost somewhere beyond their reach.

They're searching, sometimes desperately, for those fragments that complete the picture of life.

Enter the Bible: a magnificent collection spanning 66 books, written by over 40 authors across centuries, yet possessing a unity that defies mere human craft.

It's not a mere work of human creativity; it is the divine revelation of God Himself.

I stand unapologetically with the Bible as the ultimate compass in understanding our destiny.

Consider these words: from Second Samuel 14, "Like water spilled on the ground which cannot be recovered, so must we all die." And from Hebrews 9:27, "Man is destined to die once."

Even our text today, Ecclesiastes 7:2, this is how the NIV puts it "Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."

The profound wisdom in these words calls us to acknowledge our mortal end while we are still alive because once that moment passes, there's no turning back.

The task, then, is on us to grasp this reality now and live with purpose, hope, and eternal perspective.

The gospel deals with this great reality that we will all die.

Why do we die? (wages of sin is death)

Death really is the consequence for our sin.

Our father Adam’s sin is what caused the curse of death to come to all mankind.

Now we have to reckon with death.

Death is a profound concept that the Bible unravels in three distinct ways, each offering insights into our existence and relationship with the divine:

Physical Death: This is when our body and soul part ways. It’s an inevitable pause, a silence in the conversations, joys, and experiences we share in life.

Spiritual Death: This is more subtle, yet deeply significant.

It’s when we, somehow, drift away from God.

It feels like a chasm has formed, not because God moved away, but because we've become distanced.

Eternal Death: Picture a combination of the above.

If we don't bridge the spiritual gap while we're still breathing, we risk entering an eternal state of disconnect.

Jesus emphasized the importance of recognizing and believing in Him.

John 8:23–24 (ESV)

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

He essentially said, "Without understanding and embracing my role in your life, you remain distanced, in that state of spiritual drift."

The powerful line from Ecclesiastes resonates: "Death is the destiny of all men; the living should take it to heart."

Death is a call to introspection.

Sin is often downplayed or misunderstood

Here is what sin is: it's the failure to live up to God's standards, the violation of His laws.

We sin all the time (omission and commission we don’t do what we should, we do what we shouldnt)

The Bible describes sin not as a mere error but as a terminal condition, needing urgent intervention.

Without Jesus you are spiritually dead.

This is why Jesus went to the cross…he died willingly in our place to bridge this gap.

When we look at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, it's easy to cast blame on historical figures: the Pharisees, Judas Iscariot, or even Pontius Pilate.

Ok let’s talk about them

Judas, with his blatant greed and misplaced devotion, mirrors the greed and want for more that many of us grapple with.

The Pharisees, consumed by envy, religious zealotry, and misguided intentions, are not so different from many of us today. Yeah but look how good I am and how wrong they are!

And Pilate, with his towering pride, ambitions, and glaring cowardice, epitomizes the weaknesses that some of us might recognize within ourselves.

It's tempting to observe the historical scene of Christ's crucifixion and pint to our absence, what does that have to do with me…I didn;t do anything

It is easy to believe we played no part in it.

Yet, the stark reality is we were there.

Every act of envy, greed, pride, and cowardice we've committed has played a part in the crucifixion.

The hymn writer asks the question, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" isn't just rhetorical.

The answer for each of us is a profound "yes."

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?...Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble.

Every sin of ours echoes in the jeers and mockery directed at Christ.

You must understand your role in Christ's suffering.

We are part of the crowd that shouted, mocked, and nailed Him to the cross.

Our voices are amongst the loudest, and our sins are the nails and thorns that inflicted pain upon Him.

To truly understand Christ and His sacrifice, we must first recognize our profound need for Him.

The realization that He is not just a historical figure, but an absolute necessity for our redemption, brings the Gospel's message close to our hearts.

This recognition is the first step towards embracing the transformative power of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Every soul stands at a crossroads, confronting the question of destiny.

You will die.

Don’t look to all the distractions.

Don’t get caught up in the past.

Don’t live like you will never die.

Face this.

You may feel assured in your own righteousness, believing you've stacked up enough good deeds to earn your place in heaven.

Yet today, if you're brave enough to stare your imperfections in the face...

to confess your dependence on a Savior, and to surrender to Christ's mercy and grace, the most transformative news awaits you.

Hesitation is natural.

You might think, "Next time. I'll get my act together first. Maybe then, the burden of my mistakes won't be so heavy."

But ask yourself: How much self-improvement will truly be enough?

Will years of effort ever bring you to that mark? (v.16)

Frankly, no. (if you terry till your better you will never come at all)

Christ's call isn't for the already righteous; it's for those who realize their need for redemption, here and now, in their imperfect state.

We circle back to an undeniable truth: Death is universal.

It's a fact that demands reflection.

Commentator Derek Kidner wisely pointed out, "Let death's reality stir us into decisive action."

Picture Death Row, those isolated souls, judged and awaiting their final moments.

This, in a spiritual sense, is our inherent predicament.

We aren't neutral…we don’t get to just decide our fate.

The gavel has been slammed...Judgment has already been cast.

But here's where hope bursts forth.

Even on Death Row, there exists the possibility of a pardon.

Through Jesus, a pardon is extended, beckoning every soul that acknowledges their flaws and places their hope in him.

It's not about a temporary high or fleeting comfort; it's about genuine transformation and eternal life.

So, challenge yourself.

Dive deep into the boundless love and transformative power of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

He doesn't beckon the flawless; He reaches out to the fractured, offering restoration.

As you stand at the crossroads of eternity, let His sacrifice be your compass, guiding you towards true redemption.

Application Questions:

How does the finite nature of life push me to live for Christ each moment?

When I have moments of uncertainty or difficulty, how can lean into wisdom rather than just logic or emotion?

Does the reality of eternity affect the way I approach my daily life, goals, and relationships? What kind of legacy am I leaving?

How does the Gospel renew my perspective on topics like nostalgia, death, and wisdom?