“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
Solomon in the wisdom that God gave him wrote about various things. He was so wise that some of what he said and wrote were things that could not be understood unless studied. The Bible is full of examples of things beginning difficult and ending better. It’s the work of God in the lives of man. Since the fall of man, difficulty is the byword of earth. Do you live on earth? Then you will have difficulty. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Difficulty is sometimes brought on by our own words and actions. They are the consequences of wrong decisions and actions. But most difficulty is because we live in this world which is ruled by the devil. Jesus called him the prince of this world. “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (John 14:30) Paul in Romans 5:12 writes that by one man sin entered the world. When Adam disobeyed, it gave the devil access into the world and brought death to all things on the earth.
The end result of this world is death. Sin in this world is death. All things created die. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Scripture over and over admonishes us not to love the world. It’s death. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1John 2:15-17)
We see God at work in man. Throughout the Old Testament although not redeemed, God works through man to bless those who obey Him. Time after time He helps His people conquer their enemies, bless them and curse their enemies. But His people are drawn to the world. They fall prey to the things of this world, thinking and acting like the world and allowing death into their lives. And time after time, God helps them. The greatest of God’s help is God’s redemption of man.
In this world, full of sin, guilt and the burden of sin in our hearts, our lives were miserable. Unless one had a relationship with Jesus as a child, we all suffered the consequences of sin in our lives. Even if all things were working well in our lives, there was an emptiness and a void that only God could fill and satisfy. Just ask anyone who has all this world has to offer. All the fame and money in the world cannot satisfy the spirit. Having everything we want doesn’t satisfy our spirits. Our spirits need God. And there is only one way. And that way is through Jesus. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6) When we believe on Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, He gives us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. His fulness satisfies and gives our spirit peace. But what a battle it was coming to the Lord. The world didn’t want to give us up and still attempts to get us to betray our Lord.
Another thing Solomon wrote in our verse of study is that the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Solomon wrote these two thoughts, about the beginning and the end with his thoughts about the patient and the proud together because they are related. The proud is depending on self. He rationalizes his thoughts and actions based on what he can gain in this world, the temporal and the perishing. The patient depends on God. And although it may seem that the promise delays, it is sure. It’s from God, in God’s perfect time and is eternal, brings life and the goodness of God. Therefore, the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. God doesn’t delay. It’s that we’re impatient. But God is patiently waiting for all to come to repentance. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) I’m so glad He patiently waited for me to come to my senses. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2Timothy 2:24-26) In other translations it reads “that they may come to their senses.” God is patient and those who belong to Him are patient to the end.
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