1 Samuel 25:1 (NKJV)
“Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.”

Certain things are inevitable, and one of them is death. No matter how much you choose to flee from it, it will come, and you will need to embrace it. Whether we want it or not, death has been ordained for every man.

The question we need to be asking is, “How do we manage it?” Some people have developed wrong theologies and practices about death, and these wrong perspectives have led to much confusion in the Body of Christ. So here are four ways to manage death.

Firstly, expect it and embrace it. Don’t look for it, don’t pray for it, don’t invite it, but in your heart, be ready for it. Know that it is coming, and don’t live your life fighting it off as though it will never come.

Secondly, don’t be afraid of it. Knowing that the life beyond this one is better than whatever we have on earth should give us the courage and boldness to look at death in the eye without fear. Knowing that Jesus waits for us on the other side should give us rest.

Thirdly, it’s okay to lament when people die. Some people think it’s unspiritual if we weep at the death of our loved ones. But there’s nothing unbiblical about weeping for the transition of your beloved. Allow people to weep.

Finally, let the funeral be simple. We have developed a culture of making funerals a huge, expensive event when such resources could have been spent on the living. The dead do not benefit from all that. Spend on the living.

Now, let’s look at Samuel. Despite his great anointing, he died. I believe he was ready for it and embraced it. Israel lamented and mourned him, but his funeral was a simple burial in his hometown. No fanfare. He had finished his race.

May we relate with death correctly. May we embrace its reality. May we prepare for it. Let’s not invest unreasonably to honor the dead. The crux of the matter is this. Our God ordained this holy transition, and He will walk the road with us when we get there.