TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Remember the words of Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare's play? To be, or not to be is the opening phrase of a soliloquy spoken by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene".

In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, because life had become unbearable, and as such he bemoan about the pain and unfairness of life but acknowledging that the alternative might be worse.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, and by opposing end them: to die, to sleep. No more; and by a sleep, to say we end the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks that Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to Dream; aye, there's the rub, for in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause". (Hamlet scene III)

Prince Hamlet finds suicide both attractive and repulsive. If he could be sure that it would get rid of his sea of troubles, he would do it; but the dread of something after death, his fears of that "undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns, puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have, than fly to others that we know not of".

His present ills might be pleasant in comparison to the fate that await him.

Let us compare Prince Hamlet's dilemma with that of the apostle Paul:

"For to me, to live in Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" (Philippians 1: 21-24)

To those who don't believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it's natural for them to strive for this world's values - money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. For Paul, however, to live meant to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an eternal perspective. Thus Paul could confidently say that dying would be even better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face. If you are not ready to die, then you are not ready to live. Make sure of your eternal destiny.

Like Paul, we also need a purpose for living that goes beyond providing for our physical needs.

Hamlet says, "Live or die. I lose!" Paul says, "Live or die, I win!"

What a difference Christ makes!