It's almost official. The American party, populated by men in gold jewelry and women in silk gowns is over. Well, maybe not for everybody, and for some of us the party never started, but for many Americans, the stock market is crashing the party.
The festival of endless food and fuel and increasing 401Ks is drawing to a close. Maybe most of us, by God's unmerited kindness, will be able to hold on to our current standard of living. If not, how will we respond?
Ecclesiastes says (7:2) "It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time." (NLT)
Will the end of the American festival help us think more about funerals? Will we, as we sell our SUVs and shutter our lake cabins, and trade our broken gold jewelry for cash, consider our epitaph? Perhaps we should listen to Solomon, who was the author of Ecclesiastes, the wisest man who ever lived, and one of the wealthiest.
Though money may be shrinking, we still have time. Time to consider what we want on our tombstone. Time to consider what will be proclaimed at our funerals. Time to be sure our foundation is solid, built on the rock of Jesus. His party will last forever.
Jesus, we long for your Kingdom party, that you are even now, preparing.
