Although
we cannot know the future with certainty, the quality of our lives and
also our destiny do depend on the wisdom of the choices we make -- and
so the theme continues as Solomon asks us to consider the nature of
the decision-making process very carefully.
As
with a journey, which may take us to Lands End or John O’Groats,
and with the time depending on the choice of turns taken along the way,
so our quality of life depends on the myriad decisions we must make
– or that we let others make for us, each and every day.
As
we re-order our lives, we need the wisdom to choose – not necessarily
clear-cut choices between right and wrong, but between what is better
and what is worse. It is all too easy, however, and perhaps very convenient,
to let ourselves simply become too busy doing what seems urgent at the
moment to the neglect of other things that might actually be far more
important in the long run -- a principle that applies also in business,
where consultants like to contrast the urgency of putting out a fire
with the more important but often neglected matter of planning for future
fire prevention.
A
spiritual illustration, however, is found in the gospels, when Jesus
visits the home of Martha, whose sister Mary was also present. According
to the account, whilst Martha busied herself in the kitchen, Mary simply
sat and listened to what the Lord had to say. After a while, the exasperated
Martha confronted Jesus quite assertively, saying, Quote: “Lord,
don’t you care that my sister has left me to the work by myself?
Tell her to help me!” In words that have an uncanny echo of those
of Solomon in this section, Jesus replies, Quote: “Martha, Martha,
you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will
not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-41).
Notice
that Jesus, who knew the sisters well, says that Martha worried and
actually got “upset” about “many” things –
to the extent that it showed in her personality as impatience and sarcasm.
A
perfume, especially a fine perfume
that only the wealthy can afford, creates a pleasant fragrance which
masks mild body odour and diffused out through the air to trigger a
positive and pleasurable response in people nearby. According to Solomon’s
clever metaphor, a good name or reputation elicits a similar but even
more favourable response – but is based on reality rather than
artificiality.
A
good name is acquired by helping and serving
other people, but a ruthless, grasping person, motivated by the love
of money, is unlikely to obtain a good name
– or be mourned very much in his day of death.
Death
has always been looked on as a disaster, but Solomon’s assertion
that the day of death is actually better than the day of
birth appears to be an inspired revelation that, for the
righteous at least, something better lies
beyond the grave – namely, as the New Testament reveals, a resurrection
to eternal life, with a powerful spirit body (Philippians 3:21), and
an existence so joyful that even the worst sufferings of this present
time will pale into complete insignificance by comparison (Romans 8:17-18),
in much the same way as the pain of childbirth gives way to joy after
the delivery of a baby (Romans 8:22).
The
wise man quietly ponders the issues of life in his heart,
his inmost being, says Solomon. He pays heed to a wise man’s
rebuke, listens and learns and changes his life accordingly
– although the song of fools may be
far more appealing and entertaining.
The
foolish person, on the other hand, has a clear preference for the pleasures
of the moment – but his mindless laughter and carousing, in contrast
to the wise man’s quiet meditation, is noisy, like the cracking
of thorns burning under a pot on a fire. The burning thorns
make a lot of noise but accomplish very little heating because they
are an un-substantial fuel, and so are soon gone. Moreover, despite
the noise they generate, they are already dead.