Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

                                                                       Matthew 5:4 

It is quite common to hear this passage being used at a funeral. Although it is true that God can comfort those who are mourning the loss of a loved one that is not the context in which this declaration is being used. In fact, we can couple this statement to the previous one. To be “poor in spirit” is to realize that, apart from Christ, we are spiritually bankrupt. “Blessed are those who mourn” is an extension of that thought proclaiming that happy are those who mourn over their sinful condition.

It is another contrast that we see from God’s Word. To be blessed (happy) we should mourn. It would seem a contradictory though but it makes perfectly good sense when we consider the spiritual depravity of mankind. Consider the following words from James:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

                                                                                                     James 4:8-10 

James is not suggesting that the Christian life be one of living in a constant state of gloom. That would be contrary to the message of the gospel and the spiritual freedom that accompanies it. James is suggesting that we take a hard position of our spiritual condition namely that we are lost and in need of a Savior. This is good advice for the individual who is lost and spiritually dead but it is also a stark reminder for believers to guard their relationship with God by conducting a spiritual self-examination.

The mourning for Christians is not of eternal damnation or even punishment from God for our misdeeds, a Christian mourns when he/she realizes the time wasted on worthless pursuits and the missed blessings that could have be realized if sin had been avoided. In context, James is imploring us to draw near to God and for us to humble ourselves before Him reminding us that in that place God will exalt us. A joyless Christian life indicates that something has gone terribly wrong. Jesus makes the declaration that we are indeed happy when we mourn over our sin because it leads to a life of fulfillment, contentment, and relief.