Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter

Ecclesiates 7 states:

"A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day birth.

 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,

for death is the destiny of every man;

the living should take this to heart.

 Sorrow is better than laughter,

because a sad face 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 pleasure.

 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke

than to listen to the songs of fools.

 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,

so is the laughter of fools."

This verse penned by the wisest king in history, King Solomon, certainly flies in the face of the wisdom of our age.  For us, our happiness is often the highest virtue. We seek pleasure, fun, toys, "stuff".

But it appears the Lord sees things differently.  It seems He is more concerned with our humility and obedience more than our pride and happiness.