A good name is better than a fine perfume (1). A good name is when people speak well about you when you are not around to hear them. Two ways exist for a person to have a good name. One is to advertise causing others to speak about someone they really don’t know. The second is to do kind acts for others, treating them with love and respect. The selfless person is the fragrant aroma of a flower garden in the barnyard of many people’s lives.
The day of death is better than the day of birth. The Christian has ample reasons to say this (2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:21-23). However, the Teacher’s point is valid, as expounded upon in verses 2 thru 6.
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting. (2)” The house of mourning is the funeral home. The house of feasting is most likely a wedding banquet. His point here is that the hard times teach us more than happy times. This is not to say we cannot learn during happy times. Just that we are not likely to choose to seek the growing potential in the house of feasting. Show me a couple who remained lovingly loyal to each other when they went through hard times and I will see a deeply mature relationship.
Lastly, “Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. (2)” I have seen a building go up that the owners did not plan well. When it can time to move in and use it it was deemed unfit for occupation and torn down. Life under the sun is the time to consider death and prepare. First, make wise health, emotional, social, and economic choices when young and maintain them. Most importantly make a sound religious choice. Chose God so that it will go well with you when you stand before Him at the judgment seat.
