It is better to go to a funeral than a feast.
For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

People generally live their day to day lives in the moment. Days come and go; before we know it, it’s next week and then next month, and then next year. Years go by and before we know it, we approach the end of our days.

I think wisdom is spending more time in sober reflection and much less time with our noses buried in our mobile devices being fed the deceptive and demonic nonsense of the culture. Time is limited, life is short, and then we all face death. Next time you drive past a cemetery, reflect a little on your own life because that is where we all end up.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. The wise recognize their mortality. They understand the brevity of their days on the earth given by God. The scripture says we are given one life to live and then we die and face judgement. Is this not a reason for sober reflection while we live?

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Heb 9:27

Think about the graves in a cemetery. Those were people who lived and made choices. Now they are either in heaven if they chose Christ, or in Hades, the abode of the dead, waiting final judgement if they rejected the gospel. For the unrepentant, judgement will come.

Life is indeed sacred. It’s a gift from God to all of us, meant to be enjoyed with understanding that our days are limited. We should use our time wisely knowing that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. In view of this, it is wisdom to fear God and seek him, for he alone holds this life as well as the next life in his hands.

Perhaps it is better to go to a funeral rather than a feast because it’s an opportunity, not to reflect on the life of the deceased which is over, but upon our own life while we still live. Its sobering. Someday it will be our funeral. Instead of celebrating the life of the deceased its better to ponder our own. What are we doing? What do we believe? Where do we stand before God?

Death is not a reason to celebrate. If the deceased was a follower of Christ, then comfort those who mourn. If the deceased was not a follower of Christ, there is no comfort, but only an opportunity to soberly reflect on your own life. The next time you attend a funeral, leave the mobile device at home. Take just a few moments to consider your own mortality.

In the house of mourning, mourn not for the dead, but over your own sin. The sorrow that leads to repentance may perhaps, if you are wise, lead to salvation. Then your mourning will turn to joy. There is still time for you.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26 (NET Second Edition – Strong’s)