7 better things

 

Introduction:

1.    Life is full of choices -- some innocent and inconsequential, others have eternal consequences.

2.    Choices are intelligently made after consideration of what is best …

a.     There must be a value system --

b.    Such value system is only lip service if it is not lived.

3.    Some of the 'better' things --

 

1.    good name better than precious ointment

a.     Prov. 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

b.    Eccl 7:1 - A good name is better than precious ointment …

c.     Reputation -- can not be easily gotten back -- hence worth MORE than $ or THINGS

d.    Reputation - more important than LOOKS …  

e.     Remember who we are -- for we represent God to the world --

f.     Prov. 10:7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.

 

2.    The Day of Death is Better Than the Day of Birth

a.     Eccl 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, 1 And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;

b.    Birth - a joyous occasion -- oh the possibilities that lie ahead …

c.     YET, Job 5:7 Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

d.    Job 14:1-2

“Man who is born of woman 1 Is of few days and full of trouble.

2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away;

He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

e.     HENCE -- Phil 1:21 -  21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

f.     Phil 1:23 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

g.     De Gaulle - severally retarded daughter.  He worked / played with her hours on end - resulting in her (with difficulty) being able to sit up and feed herself. When she died at age 20 he said to his wife -- at last she is like all other children.

h.     Time of my departure is at hand' -- a ship being set free from the dock.  We were meant to be with God and enjoy Him -- while we are in this present body we are 'absent from the Lord' -- oh to be 'present with the Lord' ---  

 

3.    mourning is better than feasting / Sorrow is better than laughter

a.     Eccl 7:2 2 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.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

 

b.    Search for pleasure is often the ruin of the soul --

c.     Pleasure, short lived and often against the very principle of Godliness

d.    Pleasure -- when coupled with fear / reverence for God is what God intended …

e.     HENCE - the real lessons of life to be learned from sorrow -

g.     Through such we are made to agonize and reflect about life, self, destiny -

Psa. 119:67

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

Psa 119:71

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

 

5.    rebuke of the wise is better than the song of fools    

a.     Eccl. 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

b.    Prov. 9:8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

c.     Prov 27:5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.

d.    The FOOL of proverbs is the one who WON'T learn / be corrected --

e.     Christians ARE to rebuke one another:

Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

1 Tim. 5:20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

f.     Lord - Rev. 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

h.     SUCH is profitable only when one is willing to listen, think, evaluate, then act upon it.

 

6.    the end of a thing is better than the beginning

a.     Eccl. 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

b.    Particularly true of sermons ;-)

c.     Many make a good start -- only to be left humiliated - hence the counting the cost …

d.    Particularly in the Christian life -- good beginnings often turn aside -- or back…

 

7.    Patience is better than pride

a.     Pride -- an abomination unto the Lord -

Prov. 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

Prov 11:2 2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Prov 16:18 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;  He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

b.    Patience -- the continued doing of what is right in the face of adversity and opposition.

c.     Pride -- looking at accomplishments (some only in the mind!) -- patience - the continued doing that results in final accomplishment..