As one year closes and another begins, it’s natural to pause and reflect. Many of us wrestle with questions: Is my life meaningful? Am I on the right path? What needs to change?
In these moments of reflection, I often turn to the insights of King Solomon, widely regarded as the richest, wisest, and most accomplished person to ever live. Solomon lacked nothing—wealth, power, and every worldly mark of success were his in abundance. Yet his life was a mixture of extraordinary achievements and profound mistakes. Through it all, Solomon served God, and from his experiences, he gained divine wisdom. At the end of his life, he distilled this wisdom in words that still resonate today.
I particularly love how The Message translation captures Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes 7:
- Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 MSG A good reputation is better than a fat bank account. Your death date tells more than your birth date. 2 You learn more at a funeral than at a feast— After all, that’s where we’ll end up. We might discover something from it.
In Ecclesiastes 12:13, Solomon summarizes his culmination of wisdom: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Receiving God’s Instruction: Living Every Day with Eternity in Mind
Death destroys a man, but the idea of Death saves him. – E.M. Foster
Similarly, Matthew Henry observed, “It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.” This echoes Solomon’s wisdom: reflecting on that day—the day of our death—brings clarity to this day. It sharpens our focus on what truly matters and helps us align our lives with God’s purpose.
Lessons from Those Facing Eternity
Over the years, I have been interested in how the wisdom of Solomon in Ecclesiastes is expressed in real-life situations. I have had several personal experiences with people on their deathbed, including my mother and father. I have also read books and articles from people who worked in palliative care. One such caregiver, Bronnie Ware (who worked many years in palliative care), wrote The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – a Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.”
Similarly, hospice physician Dr. Simran Malhotra has shared powerful insights in her work, which is what most people say before they die. She notes, “If we allow it, death can be our greatest teacher. It puts things into perspective and forces us to question our priorities…For me, working in palliative care has been a powerful reminder of what matters in life. I hope that by sharing some of the most common regrets of my patients, it will inspire you to live a life with no regrets.”
The most common regrets from the various reports (besides the ultimate regret people face meeting God without His forgiveness through Jesus in their lives) are very similar. The biggest tend to be the following.
1. Not spending more time with loved ones and not resolving conflicts that caused separations from family and friends.
2. Spending too much time at work rather than with their families. They wished they had made more time for their loved ones. In the end, people want to be free from pain and surrounded by those they love and who are essential to them. Ware indicated, “All the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of the work existence.”
3. Not living authentically. Having the courage to avoid letting the expectations or ideas of others, not God, dictate how they lived their lives. Solomon did say, “The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the LORD is protected” (Proverbs 29:7).
4. Overemphasis on the importance of money and material possessions. Dr. Malhotra shares that at the end of their lives. “Nobody has really ever bluntly shared with me things like, oh, I’m so proud of the big house I had or the specific car I drove…It’s always about family,” says Dr. Malhotra. “It’s always about their relationships or about how they’re so proud of their children or great-grandchildren or the things that they’re doing with their life…, that really is what it comes down to.”
5. The courage to express their feelings to others. Authentic communication is an essential first step in living as God designed. It leads to freedom and blessing because we can express our hearts to people instead of being bottled up. Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Remember that your interaction with someone may be the last thing they hear from you. Make it count!!!
6. Not staying in touch with important people in their lives. Ware states, “People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.”
7. Not letting themselves be more carefree and happier. Ware expressed, “This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness was a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others and to themselves that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.” Like a child, being more carefree, fun-loving, and full of faith is something to aspire to. Jesus enjoyed being around children and they liked to be around Him. It would do us good to be more playful and fun-loving around children because of the joy of the Lord and let this attitude spill over into the rest of our lives. Because of this tendency, Jesus told us, “My Kingdom belongs to little children” (Matt. 19:13-14).
Learning from the Life of Alfred Nobel
The good news if you are reading this article is that it’s not too late. You can reach out to God for insight and change today. I remember the incredible story of Alfred Nobel, which emphasized this critical truth. Nobel was a Swedish chemist who made his fortune by inventing dynamite and other powerful explosives that governments bought to produce weapons.
In 1888, the death of his brother Ludvig caused several newspapers to publish an obituary of Alfred in error. One French newspaper published an obituary titled “Le marchand de la mort est mort” (“The merchant of death is dead”). He was described as a man who became wealthy by enabling people to kill each other in unprecedented quantities. Nobel read the obituary and was appalled at the idea that he would be remembered this way. Shaken by this assessment, Nobel resolved to use his fortune to reward accomplishments that benefited humanity, including what we now know as the Nobel Peace Prize.
In light of God’s wisdom, consider the following as we approach the New Year.
- Reflect on your life in God’s presence and in light of eternity.
Ask yourself, If this were my last day, how would I spend it? - Reconcile relationships.
Seek forgiveness, express love, and mend broken ties. - Prioritize what matters most.
Focus on relationships, faith, and God’s calling rather than worldly achievements. - Choose joy and gratitude.
Embrace a childlike faith and find delight in the simple blessings of life. - Walk in obedience to God.
Fear Him, keep His commandments, and live with eternity in view.
Remember, every interaction you have with someone could be the last. Make it count. Live today in light of that day.
Doug Kreighbaum