Funeral for Bill Aldridge

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

Ecclesiastes 7:1–4 NKJV

A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Solomon was one of the wisest men to ever live. He writes here in the text 4 things that goes against what the world believes and teaches. Bill Aldridge personified this teaching.

Who you are is better than what you have. (Vs1)

Solomon said a good name or reputation is better the costly perfume or oil. In each of these four things Solomon has eternity in view, not the temporal nature of things.

Bill Aldridge has a great name or reputation. Perhaps Bill was one of the most talented men I have known. He could fix anything, he could draw anything. No doubt in my mind Bill could literally chosen to do anything he set his mind. But Bill because he understood that who you are is more important than what you have chose the life of a servant. He was a fire fighter which exemplifies service. He was willing to put his life on the line everyday. If you know Bill, you know that is exactly who he was.

He could’ve chosen a more lucrative career, yet he understood that who he was is more important than what he had. Even while he was a fire fighter and into his retirement he helped people through his repair business of heating and air, and electrical business in which he never charged what he was worth always helping others.

Why would Solomon say better is the day of your death than your birth? I believe Solomon knew that to come to the end of your life with this good reputation would affect so many people along the way. Knowing Bill made us aspire to be better.

What you believe determines how you behave. (Vs2)

Solomon said it is better to go to funerals than to parties. Why would he say that? What kind of wisdom is in that? He goes on to say “for this is the end of all men and the living take it to heart”. From the time Bill believed in Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior he served Him. From the time that Bill realized one day he would die and took that to heart he served Christ! Perhaps Bill in his career as a fire fighter saw his fair share of deaths, he was well acquainted with the fact that everyone dies and he took it to heart. He believed in Jesus Christ. There was no doubt that Bill believed and served Jesus Christ. I could go on and on about Bill’s devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. One specific incident sticks in my mind. Before Bill and Linda came to our Church we purchased a Church van from the Church they attended. Bill was the one in charge of that transaction. I found out that Bill himself was paying the payment on that van because the Church could not afford it. He did not broad cast that, he just did it because what he believed determined how he behaved. He took it to heart.

What you experience impacts you! (Vs3)

Solomon said “sorrow is better than laughter” why would he say that? Because sorrow and sadness has a refining influence upon us. The sorrow and sadness Bill experienced made him a more understanding and compassionate man. The greatest sorrow of his life was to watch the love of his life Linda pass away. Such a sweet lady. I remember one time I was pulled over by a State Patrolman in Rubyville and Linda and Stephanie drove by and saw me. Linda told Stephanie “don’t you tell anyone”. Bill and Linda to me where inseparable, I was privileged to officiate their 50th Wedding anniversary vow renewal. After Linda went home to be with the Lord Bill was never the same. He too then looked forward to going home to be with her. The reason Solomon says that sorrow is better than laughter is that we grow more through sorrow and we become more compassionate. That’s what he means when he said “the heart is made better”.

Our future is better than the past and present! (Vs4)

Naturally as you get older you begin to think about death more. Solomon said the wise man thinks about death more than having a good time. Bill began to think about heaven more and more the older he got. The temporal things of this world mattered less and less. He looked forward to heaven and he took comfort knowing his family also would be there. The attractions of the world had no appeal to him. The only things here upon this earth he cared about was his family. Bill cared about two things, his future with Christ and his family. That is wisdom.

I learned a lot from Bill Aldridge, and he impacted my life. He was not a flashy guy, but a humble, faithful servant of the Lord. I know that Bill would want me to tell you about the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation that is available only through Him. Just as one day Bill realized he was a sinner in need of a Savior. He heard that Jesus died for him on the cross, was buried and arose on the third day. He personally believed in Jesus, believed Jesus did this for him and he called upon the name of Jesus and asked Him to forgive Bill of all his sins and to come into his life and save him. Jesus did that and it forever changed Bill Aldridge. Bill would want me to tell you that Jesus will do the same for you if you believe in Him. Would you invite Christ Jesus into your life? Will you believe in Him and ask Him to forgive you and be your Lord and Savior?

I look to Brother Bill Aldridge and say well done Bill, Well done!