Wisdom from the paradox(Ecclesistes7:1-10)

                                Wisdom from the paradox

7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

² It is 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 lay it to his heart.

³ Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the 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.

⁵ It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

⁶ For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

⁷ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

⁸ Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

⁹ Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰ Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

<What is more important?>

In Literature and philosophy there is paradox. Perhaps the most typical example of the paradox  "is losing is winning ". In general, people do not like to being lose. Think winning is a priority. But sometimes you will realize losing is better.

This 'paradox' in life, sometimes deliver the truth of life. Today we will paradox about paradox life. please listen carefully.

First when you look at the text, they using, "~is better than this" to contrast to the wise and fools. Well, the common people generally think of go to party is better than go to funeral. However The author of Ecclesiastes, but to go to a house of mourning is better than to go to party. This give us wisdom by turning general thinking. Danish existentialist philosopher Kierkegaard worte "Goose" the fable. Goose told Geese that you can also fly but geese never believe goose, moreover geese told goose to you cannot fly either so goose also couldn't fly.

Like in Kierkegaard's story we live this world by other people's standard just like wild goose and  wild geese.

When we feel happy and when we feel sorrow? (一 喜 一 悲) We feel sorrow from minor problems and we feel happy Because sports team which we support won games?

Too hard to contend with a young couple finally decided to divorce. Couple fight in the court in front of judge. But that argument is about ;when you eat the potatoes dipped in sugar or salt to eat. They fought for a long time the judge will ask which one is right. "I do not know. When you eat potatoes in our house, I'm dipping in hot pepper."

<Six of paradoxical truths of life>

First, It's better the name than oil.

Today's text, V.1a shows us that, "A good name is better than good oil."

Good oil means a lot of wealth. A similar word is at Proverbs 22:1. " 1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. "

Good oil, how nice one? It so great smell! View apparently still far from good scent to vibrate. This started, but soon end up the bottom. The property must be bound to be destroyed, but the name goes a long time. Therefore, the property should be thought of precious than the honor.

Korean's proverb saying, "Tiger leaves its Skin, Human leaves whose name, after death."

 William Shakespeare said in " Othello" -"Steal my purse is steals trash, But steal my name is stealing my life.

 Alexander Pushkin Sergei Beach said in novel the daughter of Capt  -"Young man! Do not choose the money, choose honor."

 The apostle Paul also said in Philippians 4:03 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." Revelation 3:05 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.." Hankyoreh from publishers "pyeongjeon a battery of" What is the book.      Lee wan young is traitor who sold the country(S. Korea) to Japan. He was very talented and smart and dedicated to his family but because of what he did people remember him for trator.

In contrast how about Ahn Joog Geun or Yoo Kwan Soon? Do you think the names have same value? again? Their life was a thorny path. Has been a tremendous hardship. But unlike Lee wan young their names will be remembered as beautiful names. Guess why? They didn't choose the expensive oil they knew their name(honor) is better than the wealth. I really want to your names are in book of life.

Second, It's better to go to Funeral than to go to the party.

Let's see verse 1 and 2 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth." ^{2 "}It is 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 lay it to his heart."

People are excited about go to someone's birth day party, in contrast people go to feunarl with down mood. However, the party can go wrong (hangover), the opposite is the truth discovered by the evangelists.

In English word 'grave' has  two other means 'solemn', and 'serious' are they. People become a philosopher when they go to the grave, they think about life and death. Party will never tells you where you came from. Wise man think about death and glory, as well as their interest in eternal life. Therefore, party house full of meaningless laughter is worse than a grave which gives more serious self-reflection and might turn your life better.

Third. It's better the Sorrow than laughter

Let's see verse 3 "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." In verse 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

There are several types of laughter. There is clear and mild laughter, subservient laughter, silly laughter, forced laugh, joke. This false laughter will make us to escape from the truth of life.

Let's See verse 6 "For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity." Thorns make cracking noise while burning and also the fire from thorns is not last long, which represent cheap smile(or laughter) dosen't last long.

 Smile, what a good thing. But you have to think about why you laughing, what makes you smile?

Goethe says, "never eat bread nor dewy Do not talk to life!"

" Who Never Ate With Tears His Bread Who never ate with tears his bread, Who never through night's heavy hours Sat weeping on his lonely bed, He knows you not, ye heavenly powers! Through you the paths of life we ​​gain, Ye let poor mortals go astray, and then abandon them to pain, Even here the penalty we pay. "

Most of time the true meaning of life is founded with sorrow and tears. Bible is a story about people who weep their tears but refunded their price of tears by God's grace. I strongly recommend you to love tears of soul than cheap pleasures.

Fourth, It's better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Let us see verse five It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. This song of fools is different from the praise of God. it is physical and worldly sense of the song.            sometimes we like to hear people and like people who say something always nicely without true care, but we need to hear from people who speak what you need to hear. Also we need to listen to the bible and holy words instead of easy and vivid musics.

             Fifth. It's Better is the end of a thing than the beginning

 Let's see verse five together, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning" People think "Start" is important to do something. There is an old saying "Well begun is half done saying."

             Beginning? of course important, but Ending is much more important. Above all, the beginning of the Christian religion and reason to believe is the end of life or end of world (Afterlife). Therefore, no matter how you started well, what if there is not a good ending?

Joseph, Experienced God's grace in his late days of life. Samson also turned the last minute is an enormous glory to God. Yes The second half is more important than the first half.

             Psalms of the Old Testament, which appeared on the "Hallelujah" appeared in the New Testament does not nearly go. Then comes the book of Revelation is not until almost the end (Revelation 19:01, 3, 4, 6). Christianity is a religion that emphasizes the end. Judas was great at first, but the latter was not good.             

             Thief who crucified next to Jesus his first was bad ,but he hit the home run at last minutes of his life.  As today, I wish you become more care about the end than the beginning!

             Sixth, patience is better than the proud.

Let 's see the last part of of verse 8, and verse 9 "the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." and verse 9 ^"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."

 The love of God to the best features of "patience" is. So the Apostle Paul also Pick "long-patience" is the best caracter of love among the 14 kinds of love to. Peoples' prides are easily tempered. However humble person knows to wait. Holy anger or righteous indignation (义愤) is necessarily momentary anger, but ended up making a loss of control will prevent fulfill the righteousness of God (approximately 1:20). Moses could not enter the Promised Land because Moses killed a man with anger (Numbers 20: 1-13). The wise man is enduring. Also be sure to wait a good day coming.

conclusion) Let's select the more important things!

Life is a series of choices anyway. which path you want to choose? Of course, presumably to choose a better way. Precious oil than a beautiful name! Funeral than party house! Sorrow than laughter! Advice rather than a good song! choose the Ending than the Beginning! be Patient than angry .And now, I want to finish as read( Ecclesiastes 12:13).

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  Amen. *

- traslated by; kim,hyun suk