Again I saw all the
oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the
oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors
there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead
more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet
been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 ESV)
The
recent release of the book and film series ’13 Reasons Why’ has led to concern
over the glamorizing of suicide. Many who
make the choice to take their own lives feel hopeless and can see no way out.
The
world is an oppressive place, filled with the misery of the many who suffer
under the rule of the few. If one has power,
wealth and influence, they can carve out a comfortable existence for themselves—yet
usually on the backs of the ‘least of these’.
The downtrodden have no advocate against the powerful and corrupt (see
Eccl 3:16) while all power is on the side of the cruel and the oppressors. Who wants to live in such a world!? The author figures that it is the dead who
are the ‘fortunate ones’, because they no longer suffer under such injustice
and oppression. But more fortunate still,
so the author presumes are those not yet born, for they have not known the
misery and sadness of such a life.
We
who live in the developed West live a fairly good life. We see injustice and oppression of the weak
by the strong, yet for all this we have it very easy. We in no way face the hardness of the world
as millions know it and have known it.
In the developing world the corruption and oppression is more
pronounced, more visible and tangible. Let
Christians in the developed West take heed of two very important things. First, we have no idea what oppression and
persecution is. We may feel slighted and
perceive a growing marginalization, but we shouldn’t be so quick to cry martyr. Second, practically all of us will go to bed
warm and fed and comfortable tonight. We
are not faced with lack or forced to do without. The underdeveloped world, in which a majority
of our brothers and sisters live, will face true hardship.
Yet
for all who feel in some way ‘under the heel’, might we at some point wonder of
death is not preferable to such a life.
Are the dead truly ‘better off’?
Are those not born more fortunate?
The
Christian emphatically says ‘NO!’ Life is
a blessing and a gift from God, and we recognize death as the Great Enemy (see
1 Cor 15:26). As Christians we know that there is hope; that
the evil of the world is not all powerful.
We see oppression and evil as symptoms of the great sickness of sin
which infects the entire world. We also
see these as opportunity to bring the grace of the Gospel, the hope of Jesus
Christ, to those who suffer in the world.
Christ knew oppression, privation, homelessness, abandonment and
injustice. He is the model for how to
live under tyranny with hope and grace.
May
you find hope in Him.
