The wisdom of Ben Sira, a sage writing over two thousand years ago, has some sharp, insightful words for us about these very human tendencies.
He cuts right to the chase: “Do not say, ‘I’ll do as I wish, and if He forsakes me, what now?’” It’s that feeling of invincibility, isn’t it? The idea that we can act without consequence, that even if we stray from the path, everything will be alright. Ben Sira challenges that head-on. It's a warning against hubris, against thinking we’re somehow beyond the reach of consequence.
And then comes the flip side: “Do not say, ‘I have enough, and what calamity can occur to me?’” It’s easy to become complacent, to think that because things are good now, they’ll always be that way. It’s tempting to build walls around ourselves, convinced that we’re immune to suffering.
Ben Sira continues, “In a day of prosperity, you’ll forget adversity, and in a day of adversity, you’ll forget good, and the end of man will be on the Lord.” Talk about a potent observation! We’re so quick to let our current circumstances define our entire outlook. When things are good, we forget the hard times. When things are bad, we lose sight of the good. But Ben Sira reminds us that ultimately, our lives are in God's hands.
He drives the point home: “A bad time and you’ll forget pleasure, and in a person’s end he will tell of the Lord.” It’s that moment of reckoning, isn’t it? When faced with our own mortality, we often turn to something greater than ourselves.
But Ben Sira isn't done yet. He urges caution in judging others, and perhaps even ourselves: “Before inspecting man, do not praise him, for in his end man will be straightened [in a coffin].” It's a stark image, isn’t it? We can't truly know a person until their life is complete. We see the whole picture only at the end.
And finally, “Before death praise no strongman, for in his end he'll bad deeds will be known.” Strength, power, success… none of it matters in the end if it’s built on a foundation of wrongdoing. A person’s true character is revealed in the totality of their actions, not just in their triumphs.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Perhaps it’s a call to humility, a reminder that life is a journey of ups and downs, and that our perspective is often limited by our present circumstances. Maybe it’s about remembering that true judgment comes at the end, and that we should strive to live lives of integrity, regardless of what the present moment may hold. It's a potent reminder to stay grounded, to remember both the good and the bad, and to keep our hearts open to the possibility of something beyond ourselves.