As soon as we are born we begin to die! As human beings we do not like to talk about our mortality, and very often we speak as if the things would continue as in the past. However deep down inside of us we know, anything can happen to us any time, and things would turn around us differently in a fraction of a second.
Man in his prime indeed flourishes, but only as a grass and he does wither away, and all his glory is like the flowers in the field. This should make any one to immediately recognize God’s absolute sovereign dominion over man and His absolute power to dispose of man as He pleases.
In Psalm 39, King David was contemplating on the brevity of life, and says that our life time is nothing compared to eternity and eternal God. King David realized greatly the insignificance of our lives in the greater schemes of this world.
“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. But the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.”Psa 103: 15-16.
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishes away.” Jam 4:14.
“How can one meditate on live without meditating too on its brevity, its precariousness, its fragility”? Andre Comte-Sponville, French philosopher, The Little Book of Philosophy. Meditating in life is to meditate in its brevity. The brevity of life is one of the more common themes of human existential thought. There is authentic poetry in many ancient reflexions on this brevity, and the inevitability of death and nothingness.
Comparisons:
II Samuel 14:14 - Like water spilt on the ground
I Chronicles 29:15 - Like a shadow, it will not stay
Job 7:6-7 - Like a weaver's shuttle, or the wind
Job 9:25-26 - Like a swift messenger, a swift ship, or a swooping eagle
Job 14:1 - Few days, like a flower
Psalms 78:39 - Like a wind
Psalms 90:9 - Like a sigh
Psalms 103:15-16 - Like grass, leaving no memory
James 4:14 - Like a mist or the vapor from a pot
The Need to Remember How Short Life Is:
Psalms 90:12- Causes us to act more wisely: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” We ask the Lord to give us grace to fully understand and consider how few are our number of days in this planet earth and how little more we have to live in this world. Based on this we have to live our life with double intelligence, and live carefully as if there is no more time left in this earth for us. We can ask for Divine instruction and help so that we can live our life in full for God’s glory.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 - Gives us a more balanced view of life: “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” From the above God’s Word we understand that the house of mourning is the wise man’s school, where he is serious, and learns a lot of lessons, and his heart is there to improve the spectacles of mortality that are presented to him. God’s Word also stresses the fact that the character of a fool is that his heart wants to be in the house of mirth to be merry and jovial. He takes delight in sport, gaiety, merry making, merry songs, and merry days, merry nights and wants to be in the company of merry making people. Very often sadness is a happy means of seriousness which is better for our souls and a wise man learns from it.
We need to understand the measure of our days and see how fleeting our lives are. We have so much undone and unsaid, and we have to appreciate each passing moment and not simply assume tomorrow will be available to us. We have to learn quickly from other people’s mistakes who agonize that they do not have more time to spend with their family members and do not have enough time to say and do the final things they would want to do if they were given some more time in this planet earth. Above all we have to learn the value of serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ today because we may not have tomorrow to get our lives right with God.
Making the most of every opportunity is wise; “redeem the time because the days are evil.” Eph 5:16. Pursuit of the things of this world is vanity and we have to pursue the most important: which is our relationship with God, and our relationship with family members and other believers. We need to treat each other the way we would expect others to treat us, and we should not assume that time will be granted to us tomorrow with these people. Life is very fragile, and it should be handled with prayer with Divine help, so that we can maximize our time and not regret the life we lived!
Web References:
1. Life is Short: The Brevity of Life
The Brevity and fragility of Life . As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. But the wind passes over, and soon all disappears; and his ...
www.meaningsoflife.com/Life-is-short.htm
2. Brevity of Life
Brevity of Life Comparisons. II Samuel 14:14 - Like water spilt on the ground; I Chronicles 29:15 - Like a shadow, it will not stay; Job 7:6-7 - Like a weaver's shuttle, or the ...
www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVIndex/brevity.htm
3. The Brevity of Life Lessons For Daily Living Christian Monthly ...
As humans, we do not like to think about our own immortality. We are not interesting in speaking in terms of there not being a tomorrow. Rather, we speak as if
www.christianmonthlystandard.com/index.php/the-brevity-of-life
4. Psalm 39, The Brevity of Life West Palm Beach church of Christ
Introduction: Psalm 39 is another psalm of David. However, the superscription of the psalm tells us that this psalm is to Jeduthun. We can read a little
westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/old-testament/psalms/psalm_39.html
5."The Brevity of Life" : Articles : HEARTLIGHT® Magazine
How can we discern the time we have and number our days in a proper manner -- we cannot unless we look to the Lord for his help, his presence, and his guidance.
www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071014_brevity.html
6. Brevity of Life: Scripture and Commentary
Scripture and commentary on the brevity of life. ... 2 Samuel 14:14 14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither ...
www.scriptureandmusic.com/Topics/Text_Files/Life_Brevity.html
7. Brevity Quotes Brevity Sayings Love Quotes and Sayings
Here are some brevity quotes and sayings that might inspire you to start being more brief and get to the point soon, without having to beat around the bush much
www.soundoflife.net/brevity-quotes
8. Life is Like a Vapor. Bible study on the brevity of life.
Life is Like a Vapor Bible study on the brevity of life. In my last article we noticed that James compared ...
www.biblestudyguide.org/articles/personal-reflection/life-vapor.htm
9. The Brevity of Life - Page 1
In this world, nothing is certain, except death and taxes, wrote Ben Franklin in 1789. During the next 100 years, Mark Twain popularized those words through his own writing.
brevityoflife.org/html/bl_text.htm
Book References:
1. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)
2. John G. Kruis, ‘Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling; (Grand rapids: Baker Books, Third edition, p. 169-170)
3. David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopaedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)
4. Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104).
5.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.
6. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.
7. Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)
8. Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)
9. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)
10. Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)
11. The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.
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