Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit. Proverbs 7: 8, NRSV.
Gracious God, how wonderful it feels to be a child of the King of kings, and Lord of lords. What a delight to know that in “the end” it will be worth it all! Help us to be ready when You return to “fix” all the broken people, and pieces, in our world. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray! Amen.
The first time I heard, or, paid attention to, our text for today, was at the high school graduation of our daughter, Julie. I do not remember not one sentence of that sermon. What I do remember, is that my husband and I could not stop commenting on how much was gleaned from so little! The speaker had taken only the first half of this text and had created a masterpiece, both in content and presentation. We will see what the LORD has for us today. We will divide our text into two parts.
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning[.]” At first glance we may not agree with this statement. It is when you sit and analyze what the wiseman is saying that it dawns on you just how logical it is. Let us take pregnancy as our first example. In John 16: 21, we read the following, “When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.” For some women, it is not only the beginning of labor, but the beginning of the pregnancy (morning sickness, mood shifts, swelling of feet; just to mention a few) that is difficult. But in almost every situation, with very few exceptions, the minute you look into the face of that little human being, all the discomfort, all the clumsiness, all the pain is forgotten. You made it to the end, and what a prize you received!
On the occasion of a graduation, the text was absolutely relevant! No more all-night studying. No more stress as you wait for the results of your tests, quizzes, papers. No more wondering if you are going to be able to keep up with all of the requirements. No more watching others go out on Saturday nights while you stay at home doing homework. Now add to all of that, the “age” factor, for those of us who went back to school, in the afternoon of life! Indeed you long to both see, and celebrate, the end! When you finally reach your goal you can hardly believe it. You made it to the finish line! For weeks afterward the tune of Pomp and Circumstance just keeps re-playing in your mind, over and over again! Receiving your diploma represents victory! It means you persevered until the end!
“[T]he patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.” In both of the examples I used, patience plays a key role. If the mother-to-be should one day decide that she has had all that she can take, and decides that she will have her baby now! If now, is less than thirty-eight weeks, every week less, represents reduced possibilities of her child living. Her chances of having a normal, healthy, baby, are increased if the period of gestation is allowed to run its course. So no matter how difficult the pregnancy is, her patience is a plus. The pride of giving birth to a perfectly healthy child, is usually preceded, and enhanced, by the patient endurance of the mother. In the second half of the text, it is what comes before, that gives importance to what we receive at the end. It is the reverse of the first premise.
The same principle applies in the pursuit of an education. You look up your course of study in the bulletin and you realize that you will need to dedicate yourself to studying for the next four, five, six, or more years; depending on your course of study, your circumstances, and your capacity. No doubt this will represent some amount of sacrifice; but let me assure you, it will be worth it all! The growth that it will represent, far exceeds the sacrifices. Nevertheless, before you can feel the pride of walking before the “crowd” of witnesses, you must exercise patience in the process of be-ing educated! The patience cultivated during the journey is of much greater value than the pride experienced at the end.