The House of Mourning

Mike Johnson

Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “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.“

Why is it better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, i.e., why is it better to go to a funeral home than to a party? One would think the opposite would be correct. A person might say, “There is more enjoyment in attending a festive event than a place where there is mourning for the dead.” However, the passage is not speaking of “enjoyment; is talking about what is better.

The reason it is better to go to the “house of mourning” is due to there being more to gain from the house of mourning. At the place of grief, there is a reminder that death will come to all of us. We will “lay this to our heart,” as the passage says.

The Bible teaching on the brevity and the uncertainty of life should occur in the house of mourning. Job 14:1-2 says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” An understanding of this concept should motivate us to use the time we have left in God’s service. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

We are on this earth for a reason. We are not here to do whatever we want to do. We are not here to pursue immorality, material things, and to serve our selves. The question, “What am I doing here?” is one of the issues, which always plagues humanity. The answer to this question is in Ecclesiastes 12:13, where the writer says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”

Have you learned lessons, which come from the house of mourning? All of us have a responsibility (in this short life) to serve God. Are we doing that now? Life quickly passes away; it can end at any time; Christ can return at any time. Are you prepared?

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