| Ecclesiastes 7:1 – “…the day of death is better than the day of birth.” |
In 2004, country music artist Tim Mcgraw released his award winning song, “Live Like You Were Dying”. The lyrics encourage the initiative to get things doneyou’ve always dreamed of doing – for McGraw, things like skydiving, mountain climbing, bull riding, loveing deeper and singing sweeter. Personally, I won’t be diving from the sky or riding on a bull, but I certainly appreciate the sentiment. Everyone has “bucket lists”, but only a few get around to checking off al the boxes.
The song’s concept carries a strong biblical precedent. Scripture repeatedly reminds that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Yet even so, the Bible flips this idea on its side.
We should strive to live like we’re dying, but we should also long to die like we’re living.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 7, Solomon magnifies this important perspective. I encourage you to read the entire chapter in your own time, but let me highlight an couple of important phrases. Ecclesiastes 7:1 “…the day of death is better than the day of birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:2 “It is better to go to a house of mourning than go to a house of feasting…” (Newer, [paraphrased translations even render it, “It’s better to go to a funeral than a party.”)
How can this be? How is our death (DOD) better than the day of our birth (DOB)? Why is it better to attend a funeral than a party?
Death deepens perspective.
I’m a firm believer that every person should attend at least two or three funerals a year. As a minister, I’m around death a lot. Death doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. I recognize I’m in the minority, but caskets and grave sites and funerals and memorials have become a regular rhythm in my life.
At the risk of sounding like a Grim Reaper, I said what I said. When we attend funerals, it draws us back into what is most important in life. Our priorities shift. Money becomes less important than memories. Profits pale in comparison to people. I’ve never heard a eulogy that nostalgically remarked, “He was always first to the office and last to leave.”
However, I do often hear at funerals and memorials, “It’s a shame that we wait to share our hearts and kind words until after someone dies.” It certainly is. But funerals bring it out of us.
As disciples of the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26), it should be our conviction that the date of our death is better than the date of our birth. We’re destined for a home that is far exceeds where we’ve been. When we pass away, we leave the land of the dying for the land of the living.
Servants of King Jesus are called to live well and die well, because that’s exactly what Jesus did. From Capernaum to the cross, He was about the Father’s business.
So, was Tim McGraw right? Should you live like you were dying? Sure. With the exception of ELijah (and maybe Enoch), death has a 100% success rate. Finish that bucket list while you still can.
But more importantly, die like you are living. That’s what dreams are made of.
What’s your climate?
- Jacob Hawk
