Things that are Better (Ecc 7: 1-3)

THINGS THAT ARE BETTER (Ecc 7: 1-3):

After reflecting and stating the limitations of human beings, the author moves on to say about the things that are better. The author says that the good name is better than precious ointment. The precious ointment is costly in its existence and it has the best quality that’s praised by all, but it has no power to influence or change the people internally by its nature, whereas the good name gained by a person is by the person’s admirable deeds in their existence and essence which is like the precious ointment. It transforms and influences the lives of people. Also, the author says that the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth because the person who had come into the earth had known all the displeasing things and sufferings, which cause them to hate life. The birth of people in specific is a mystery but death is awaited by everyone. The contrary is that when a person earns a good name, he would be acknowledged by many people and receive the good tidings and blessings during his last days or death itself, which would be better than the day of one’s birth with prosperity.  

Most of the people prefer to go to a place where there are celebrations and feasting than going to a place where the person suffers and mourn. But the author says that it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting because the place of mourning is an end of all men and the living will lay it to heart. The place of feasting passes very quickly and it provides happiness that fades and doesn’t add much to the value or purpose for the existence, whereas the place of mourning reminds that there is an end for each and everyone in the face of the earth and it urges the person to live a worthy and valuable life that inspires by a good name and joyfulness with content.

When the person empathizes with the other, the person could really feel the other person’s emotions and would be able to connect with them in their sorrow and give them comfort. Though the laughter helps to connect with others, Sorrow is better than laughter as it connects more, and the person remembers the days they were comforted in sorrow by someone, more than the laughter with many. The sharing of sorrow makes the heart of the bereaved person to become less burdened and take rid of the sadness of the face slowly.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What is better than precious ointment? Why?

2.    Why the day of death is better than the day of birth?

3.    Why it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting?

4.    How the house of living is an end of mankind and living will lay it to heart?

5.    How sorrow is better than laughter?

6.    How the heart is made glad because of sadness of face?

7.    How we could earn a good name?

8.    How we can prioritize things in our life situations for engaging with people around us?