[:en]SCRIPTURE: ECCLESIASTES 7
“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 7:4)
“Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:7)
“Doi not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
“When times are good, be happy; buit when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
“Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city” (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
THE BETTER LIFE:
- A good name is BETTER than fine perfume (v. 1a)
- The day of death is BETTER than the birth if you have a good name (v. 1b)
- It is BETTER to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting (v. 2)
- Sorrow is BETTER than laughter (v. 3)
- It is BETTER to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the son of the fools (v. 5)
- The end of the matter is BETTER than its beginning (v. 8a)
- Patience is BETTER than pride (v. 8b)
- Do not say,. “Why were the old days BETTER than these?” (v. 10)
THE BALANCE LIFE:
- There are good times and bad times in life and we can never know our future (v. 14)
- Do not be overrighteous or overwise nor overwicked and foolish. Avoid all extremes (vs. 16-17)
- Do not mind when you hear your servant cursing you because you yourself has cursed others (vs. 21-22)
FINAL CONCLUSION:
When you are born, you are given a name. Upon death, your name will either be fragrant or unpleasant depending on how you lived. In this life, you will experience laughter and sorrow, prosperity and adversity. Nobody can predict your future except God. So, do not believe in astrology, palm reading or fortune telling. Instead, trust everything to the Lord. Seek wisdom so that you can live a righteous and joyful life.[:]