Upside Down Thinking - Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

Upside Down Thinking Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 (c)Copyright June 21, 2020 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche As has been the focus throughout Ecclesiastes, there is a contrast between life "under the sun" and life lived with an eternal perspective. We have seen that "life under the sun" is a dead-end street. Its satisfaction is temporary. Life lived seeking the Lord; living with an eternal perspective; is the only way to find true satisfaction and life beyond the grave. In our text today Solomon takes what we have always believed to be true and turns it on its head. This is what Jesus did with the Sermon on the Mount. He started with the Beatitudes where blessing was given to the unexpected (Blessed are the poor, the meek, the hungry, the persecuted, the pure in heart.) And from there He continued, "You have heard that it was said . . . but I say to you." Jesus followed those words with words that changed the way people viewed all of life. Solomon is going to do the same thing here. He will use a number of proverbs to try to change our focus, our value system, and get us to think more deeply about life. This chapter is vintage Solomon for it reminds us a great deal of the book of Proverbs. He begins with two assertions and we will look at them separately, 1 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. A Good Reputation is Better than Fine Perfume Perhaps we can highlight this better by saying, "Good Character is better than a Stunning Appearance" or "Good character is better than Fame." One is about the surface, the other runs deep. In other words, you can smell great, you can look fantastic, and be a rotten person. This runs counter to prevailing wisdom, doesn't it? People spend billions of dollars on health clubs, exercise equipment, diet programs, plastic surgery, designer clothing, fancy cars and so on, yet, by and large, invest relatively little in building a godly character. Even in our Churches, we agonize on how to "brand" our church and make it more attractive to the consumer, but spend relatively little time in prayer, introspection, and repentance. Think about it, this is also true for restaurants and stores. You might be drawn to them initially because they are new, but eventually it comes down to reputation and the quality of the product. A store that has a reputation for bad merchandise or terrible customer service will struggle in business no matter how fancy it is. One of the things that people admired about Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple Computer, was his obsession with quality. He wanted devices that looked good but also that would last. As a result, people purchase Apple produicts even though they are often more expensive. As a side note, this is what makes gossip so deadly. It attacks a person's reputation. It is one of the most vicious things you can do to someone. The Day of Death is Better than the Day of Birth There is a second proverb in this first verse: the day of death is better than the day of birth. As a Christian, we understand this. In Philippians, Paul said "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (1:21) Paul lived his entire life after his conversion, for the honor and glory of the Christ who saved Him. He looked forward to the day when he would meet the Lord in person. He looked forward to being held in the very arms of the one who loved him from before the creation of the world. In other words, death means to be where we should have been longing to be all our lives. It is like saying, "Graduation day is better than the day you first start school." However, Solomon is writing BEFORE Christ. I believe the Holy Spirit was working through Solomon pointing to Christ. But what did Solomon mean in his day? Perhaps Solomon understood that * The day of birth is the first step into pain and suffering . . . the day of death is the first day of peace and healing for those who forgiven by God. * The day of birth is the day of being bombarded by the impact of sin; at our death we are finally saved from sin. * The day of our birth is the day of grand dreams; the day of our death is the end of the reality of life. * The day of birth is when the lies start coming; day of our death is when the truth finally is revealed. These things do not contradict anything the New Testament said. In fact, these things were already anticipating the good news of the gospel. As a society we fight death until our dying breath. Even when people die we either try to quickly dispose of the body or we dress it up to look like it is still alive. Some of this is because death is an unknown; we have never died before. New things tend to be intimidating. However, if we think about it logically, death delivers us from the sickness, the pain, and the humiliation that sometimes accompanies life. This is why you will sometimes hear older people say, "Why can't I just die?" The enjoyment seeps away and is often taken over by pain and discomfort. Solomon's not done with turning things upside down. He is not even done talking about death and dying. He is going to push this still farther, 2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies- so the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. It is Better to Go to A Funeral Than a Party I've come to really like this passage because I think I finally get it. We go to parties in some respects, to escape. We want to escape the pressures and drama of life. We talk about "getting away from the rat race." People drink so they get numb and the problems of life seem a little more manageable (until you wake up the next morning!) You laugh, you joke, you have fun with friends. It's a good time. Solomon does not say parties are evil. He says, it is more beneficial to go to a funeral than to go to a party. That is because one is shallow, the other is profound. You don't have to worry about deep discussions or profound thoughts at a party. Nobody is going to ponder the direction of their life; no one will ask if they are investing their time wisely or if their priorities are appropriate. They are designed to be superficial. People may mock God at a party and tell jokes about being faithful. However, no one mocks God in a tragedy or when you are told you have cancer, or when you are sitting in an ICU because someone you love teeters between life and death. You don't mock God when you have to sign a death certificate or stand at a freshly dug grave. When you take a trip to a funeral home you are forced to face the harsh reality that life is temporary. It is hard to avoid the fact that someday we are all going to die (unless the Lord returns before that time.) Such thoughts can lead us to think about ultimate things. It changes our values. There is a true story that comes from the sinking of the Titanic. A frightened woman found her place in a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the raging North Atlantic. She suddenly thought of something she needed, so she asked permission to return to her stateroom before they cast off. She was granted three minutes or they would have to leave without her. She ran across the deck that was already slanted at a dangerous angle. She raced through the gambling room with all the money that had rolled to one side, ankle deep. She came to her stateroom and quickly pushed aside her diamond rings and expensive bracelets and necklaces as she reached to the shelf above her bed and grabbed three small oranges. She quickly found her way back to the lifeboat and got in.1 An hour earlier she wouldn't have chosen a crate of oranges over the smallest diamond. However, confronting death changes our value system. Suddenly she knew these oranges could be the key to survival. One of the questions that often provokes a good deal of thought is: "If you knew you were going to die in 30 days, how would you live differently?" Most people would want to spend as much time with those they love as possible. They would get their house in order and hopefully, they would make sure they were right with the Lord. The follow up to the question of course, is this: How do you know you have any more time than this? What if life ended suddenly? Why don't you make those changes now. . . while you have the opportunity to do so? Going to a funeral leads you to think about eternity. If nothing else, it might force you to ask, "Who would come to my funeral, and what would they say about me? "Hopefully, it makes you examine seriously the claims of Jesus. Did He really rise from the dead? Can we trust Him when He says those who believe in Him will live even though they die? This one thing is sure: as you stand at the graveside of someone you love, what is beyond this life is no longer a theoretical question . . . it becomes intensely practical. 5 Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. 6 A fool's laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless. Criticism from the Right Person is Sometimes Better than Praise from a Fool We all like to hear good things. We want to know we are doing a good job. We want to feel appreciated. We want to feel like our work is having a positive impact on the lives of those around us. However, we know that sometimes we are praised because someone is just trying to get on our good side. If someone wants something from you or is trying to sell you something, they are going to say nice things. Can you imagine a car dealer saying to a customer who is interested in a particular car, "You know, I've got to tell you . . . you look absolutely ridiculous in this car." No, they are more likely to say, "This car looks great on you." People who want your vote are going to generally tell you what you want to hear. They will agree with you, flatter you, and make you feel they are your greatest admirer. We must beware of the person who gives false praise. There are other times when we are praised by someone who is biased or simply mistaken. If you watch the talent shows you wonder sometimes how friends and family could have told people they were good singers, when it is obvious to everyone who is not tone deaf that they do not sing well at all. You wonder who told someone that a certain outfit was flattering when it makes everyone else want to turn away. Flattery is enticing, but it not always reliable. However, praise from the judge of the talent show or praise from someone who was genuinely helped by you, or praise from an employer means a great deal. I hope we are all living to one day hear that "Well done, though good and faithful servant." Whenever someone flatters us it is always a good idea to ask: Is there something this person hopes to gain by the flattery? Do they come across as sincere or as condescending? Are they up to something? Perhaps this is what is meant by the "laughter of fools is quickly gone." Fools want everyone to believe they are having the time of their lives . . . but that laughter is short-lived because it is superficial; it's a show. On the other hand, criticism and rebuke sting. We don't like people who are always picking at us. We aren't keen about hearing about our mistakes or failures. There are those people who will always find something to be critical about in everything. We know them and we take cover whenever we see them coming. We tend to brace ourselves for the critical remarks to come. On the other hand, there are some people who are wise, and you would do well to listen carefully to their correction, rebuke, or advice. * The coach of your team * Your commanding officer in the military * The corrective comments of a Judge in a courtroom * The explanatory words of a teacher * The wisdom of a loving parent * The rebuke or guidance of God's Word. * The insights of a wise counselor * The observations of a spiritual mentor * The whispers of God's Spirit Any tips we can get from someone we look up to are worth a great deal. When I was in seminary, I took a preaching class with a professor who was ruthless with his students. We had to deliver a sermon to the class that was videotaped and then we had to schedule a time to watch that video with the Professor one on one. He spotlighted every idiosyncrasy. He pointed out annoying habits, posture that undermined what you were saying, or vocabulary choices that were incorrect. It was painful, but may have been the best class I had in seminary. He showed me things I needed to see before I could improve. However, to benefit from the criticism of the wise, you need to listen, rather than react or defend. We short circuit some of our learning because we are too proud to be corrected. But, how can you tell if the criticism is well-meaning or mean-spirited? A wise rebuke is often given in private. It is not spoken in anger but with a tone of instruction. It is generally not a rebuttal to something you said. If you are wise, you will learn even from mean-spirited rebukes. The wise person seeks to grow even from the words of an enemy or a fool. We must learn to ask honestly, "Is there any truth in what was said?" If there is, then learn from it. If you can honestly say there is nothing to what the person is saying, then toss it aside and move on. We had an experience once in a board meeting. A person hurled all kind of criticism at me and then stormed out of the room and the church leaving everyone shocked. I sat silent. I knew this was not a dialog but a speech. When the person left I asked, "OK, is there anything in what was said we think is valid and we need to address?" We sifted through the pile of words and learned what we could. Rebukes from anyone can help us learn and grow if we let them. Many times the hurtful words spoken by others do have a kernel of truth in them. We would be wise to sift through the words and learn from the kernel of truth. We are going to pick up the rest of this list next week. For now, let's draw two applications. First, we are reminded that God's values are often at odds with those of the world. God is calling us to depth of character. The world is content with what is shallow. What is anchored in shallow water will not hold in the storms. You must anchor deep if you are going to survive the wind and the waves that are so often a part of life. The question: where do you spend the majority of your effort: building character or tending to what is superficial and temporary? Are you focusing on merely getting through each day or are you preparing for eternity? Do you fret more about your appearance before men or your appearance as you stand before the Lord? Second, a person is not able to truly live until they are ready to die. It was Socrates who is credited with saying, "the unexamined life is not worth living." We must face the reality that life is temporary. We should ask, "What is the purpose of living?" "What happens when we die?" "What do I want to accomplish with my life?" Are you just punching the clock until life runs out? Are you trying to distract yourself by running as fast as you can for as long as you can? I've heard many people say, "I know I should get my life right with the Lord" and then they say, "but . . . " I want to (and probably should scream . . . If you know this is what you should be doing . . . why don't you just do it!" God wants you to be part of His family. He wants you to embrace His gift of love in sending Jesus to us and to the cross. He wants you to walk with Him, talk with Him and let Him be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. God doesn't need you or me . . . but for some staggering reason, He wants us to be part of His family. And once we choose to bow before Jesus as our Savior and Lord our destiny is sealed. We are prepared for death. And we are set free to live. 1 Charles Swindoll LIVING ON THE RAGGED EDGE p. 195 --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 1