Ecclesiastes 7:1 says, A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.  I believe Solomon is saying that we should value our good name above the riches of the world.  He also says that leaving this world should be a more joyous occasion for a person than being born into it.  We gather around to celebrate a birth, but then gather to mourn a death.  If the person who died has a right relationship with God through Christ, we should rejoice that they are going home, because as a Christian, this world will never really be our home.  Verse two says, 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.  We don't often think of a house of mourning as better than a house of feasting.  We look for pleasure in life when we look at the world from a materialistic view, but from a spiritual view, death releases us as followers of Christ to real happiness.  Those who are left behind at the day of mourning realize that this is their ultimate fate.  As followers of Christ, this shouldn't bring us sorrow, but for the lost it should and that should cause them to consider what life really is.  Verse three says, Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  This does not support what many want us to believe today.  We hear that God wants us to be happy, so He should gives us more of the things of this world.  Solomon said through sadness that our hearts are made better.  We should have a great sadness for the lost of the world and allow our hearts to go out to them.   Verse four says, The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.  I believe Solomon is saying that we learn more by having compassion and mourning with those in sorrow than we ever will by just living for the joys of this world.  In mourning, we realize that this life is but temporary and that God is eternal.  What we do for Him is all that really lasts.