Pastor Wes Humble
Recently, I decided it was time to develop a new funeral message. Over the years I have officiated hundreds of funerals, perhaps even more. Many of those services were for people who had little to no church connection or pastor actively involved in their lives.
The reality is that if you live on this earth long enough you will have to deal with death. Death is inevitable. In fact, whether we like to admit it or not, we are all terminal. With that in mind, let me share a verse that may seem unusual for a devotion, but one that contains an important truth for all of us.
"Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies – so the living should take this to heart," Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NLT).
What exactly did Solomon mean?
I believe he was teaching us that there are lessons we can learn at a funeral that we can’t learn anywhere else. Parties can distract us and cause us to focus on the moment. Funerals cause us to pause and reflect. Celebrations center our attention on the here and now, while funerals remind us of eternity.
At a party, we may evaluate the people around us. At a funeral, we evaluate ourselves.
Solomon wrote, "...so the living should take this to heart."
This is not a sad devotion. It is a gift and an invitation to think deeply about what truly matters. Life is short. James reminds us that our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. The message is not, "Be afraid." The message is, "Make every day count."
Relationships matter.
First and foremost, our relationship with God is eternally important. Our relationships with family matter as well. Life is too short to carry unresolved conflicts when forgiveness can be offered or received. Jesus also taught us that our relationships with our neighbors matter.
Perhaps today would be a good day to take inventory of your life. You do not need to attend a funeral to do this. Simply ask God to show you anything that is out of place or not what it should be. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit works in our hearts when we genuinely invite Him to lead us.
Many years ago, as a teenager, I spent a summer mowing grass in a cemetery. One evening, I noticed some words engraved on an old headstone. I bent down and brushed away the grass so I could read the entire inscription. I have never forgotten it.
To be honest it felt a little eerie at the time, almost as if someone was speaking to me from the grave. The inscription read:
"Remember friends as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you must be,
Prepare yourself to follow me."
Those words have stayed with me for many years. While they may sound somber, they contain an important reminder. Life is precious, but it is also temporary. Every day is a gift from God and an opportunity to live with purpose, love deeply, forgive freely, and walk closely with Him.
So today, enjoy the blessings God has given you. Laugh with friends. Celebrate with family. Enjoy the parties. But don't become so focused on the temporary that you lose sight of the eternal.
Live life to the fullest, surrender to God daily, and make every moment count.
Enjoy the parties, but keep an eye on eternity.
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