Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven cont... Which is better, sorrow or joy?

3 “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better”.

"Sorrow is better than laughter..." One needs to be careful here because at face value this statement is false, laughter is much better than sorrow; heaven will be full of laughter and joy. Remember Solomon is a depressed king who through disobedience has lost his anointing and his joy. The Lord came that we might "...have life and have it more abundantly" (John 1:10). After all the kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy lets not twist that.

 However, that being said, in this life, we have an adamic nature which must be dealt with and that is not always joyful albeit it is necessary. In the Feasts of the Lord there is one day called the day of atonement, a day of soul affliction, a time of mourning and not of joy. This speaks of the time in our lives God is dealing with sin and the sinful nature. In this context the statement of Solomon is true; "...by the sadness of the countenance [by Gods dealings] the heart is made better". During this period of soul affliction God removes sin, rebelliousness and disobedience.

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 12 times in the New Testament the word sober is mentioned; and sobriety is the correct applications of this verse, to be sober and not glib, do not take your walk glibly or irresponsibly. The following verses on sobriety set the stage for all New Testament believers:

All Saints - 1Thess 5:6  “...but let us watch and be sober”.

A Bishop - 1Tim 3:2  ...vigilant, sober, of good behaviour...

Wives - 1Tim 3:11  ...sober, faithful in all things.

Aged Men - Titus 2:2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate...

Young Women - Titus 2:4  ...young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Young Men - Titus 2:6  Young men...sober minded.

The Danger We Face - 1Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: