“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Mt. 5:4)
Oh the sweetness of the comforting of the Lord. No one likes affliction, but in light of God’s comfort, and if that is what it takes to get it, then we can rejoice in afflictions. Much is gained through sorrow.
Solomon teaches us that sorrow is better than laughter, (Eccl. 7:3), He says that It is better to dwell in the house of sorrow than the house of mirth. This is because we are strengthened more in sorrow than in gaiety. There is more character in the sorrow, because the gaiety is folly, it feeds the immediate, and pleases the flesh, but does nothing for the spirit. (See Eccl. 2:2 and 7:4 also). This is from the wisest natural man that ever lived! A sad countenance is better than a laughing spirit.
Most men find it hard to mourn, especially in a public place, and yet, Jesus tells us that those who mourn are “blessed”. Let us enjoy the laughter when it comes, but learn from the sorrow, and hold it in our hearts. Don’t focus on the laughter all the time, though desirable, but focus on that which builds and strengthens us through the many obstacles that life throws our way. Yes, blessed are they that mourn, because God shall see to it that they are blessed.
We too often read this as a “neutral” statement, and forget that it is a promise! God promises to bless those that mourn. It seems that we have an inroad then to obtaining God’s blessing—just learn to mourn, along with these other “be” attitudes, of course, but we are blessed for each one of them, and not necessary all of them collectively. In other words, there is a blessing for the poor in spirit, as well as they that mourn. These qualities are often hard to come by until we have grown in the Lord for many years, and been through many battles, but any of them will obtain God’s blessing, but the more we have, the greater the blessings! Oh the wonder of it all.
Mourning roots itself in compassion, while laughter is merely selfish emotion. Laughter exalts our own folly, and brings a temporary, short-lived joy to our hearts, but mourning is permanent, and reflective. Mourning builds compassion from which it came, but laughter builds only false dreams and paper ideals. Yes, sorrow is better than laughter; it is remembered longer, and makes us stronger in patience and determination. Laughter is preferred, but sorrow is the better of the two.
Oh the sweetness of the comforting of the Lord. No one likes affliction, but in light of God’s comfort, and if that is what it takes to get it, then we can rejoice in afflictions. Much is gained through sorrow.
Solomon teaches us that sorrow is better than laughter, (Eccl. 7:3), He says that It is better to dwell in the house of sorrow than the house of mirth. This is because we are strengthened more in sorrow than in gaiety. There is more character in the sorrow, because the gaiety is folly, it feeds the immediate, and pleases the flesh, but does nothing for the spirit. (See Eccl. 2:2 and 7:4 also). This is from the wisest natural man that ever lived! A sad countenance is better than a laughing spirit.
Most men find it hard to mourn, especially in a public place, and yet, Jesus tells us that those who mourn are “blessed”. Let us enjoy the laughter when it comes, but learn from the sorrow, and hold it in our hearts. Don’t focus on the laughter all the time, though desirable, but focus on that which builds and strengthens us through the many obstacles that life throws our way. Yes, blessed are they that mourn, because God shall see to it that they are blessed.
We too often read this as a “neutral” statement, and forget that it is a promise! God promises to bless those that mourn. It seems that we have an inroad then to obtaining God’s blessing—just learn to mourn, along with these other “be” attitudes, of course, but we are blessed for each one of them, and not necessary all of them collectively. In other words, there is a blessing for the poor in spirit, as well as they that mourn. These qualities are often hard to come by until we have grown in the Lord for many years, and been through many battles, but any of them will obtain God’s blessing, but the more we have, the greater the blessings! Oh the wonder of it all.
Mourning roots itself in compassion, while laughter is merely selfish emotion. Laughter exalts our own folly, and brings a temporary, short-lived joy to our hearts, but mourning is permanent, and reflective. Mourning builds compassion from which it came, but laughter builds only false dreams and paper ideals. Yes, sorrow is better than laughter; it is remembered longer, and makes us stronger in patience and determination. Laughter is preferred, but sorrow is the better of the two.
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