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- Oct 26, 2007
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The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8
If you’ve ever been to a rally—spiritual, sports, or business related—then you know how a great message can fire up a crowd. Everybody plans to go home and implement what they learned, but as soon as they walk through the door, reality hits them.
The sink is backed up, the car needs repairs, their son needs a ride to soccer practice, and the baby is crying. So, they dive into their responsibilities, and the end of the matter (their new goal) fades as quickly as the emotion that swept through the auditorium hours earlier. They’re like “the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary” (Matthew 13:20-21).
In today’s verse, Solomon calls you to be patient of spirit as you set your mind on something. If your goal is to read God’s Word every day without fail, then tend to your responsibilities, but try getting up a little earlier. If your goal is to walk five miles a day, start with one mile and work your way up. If your goal is to set a new sales record, then study the current leader and carefully implement his strategies.
Slow, steady progress beats quick, emotional commitment every time. The end is better than the beginning.
If you’ve ever been to a rally—spiritual, sports, or business related—then you know how a great message can fire up a crowd. Everybody plans to go home and implement what they learned, but as soon as they walk through the door, reality hits them.
The sink is backed up, the car needs repairs, their son needs a ride to soccer practice, and the baby is crying. So, they dive into their responsibilities, and the end of the matter (their new goal) fades as quickly as the emotion that swept through the auditorium hours earlier. They’re like “the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary” (Matthew 13:20-21).
In today’s verse, Solomon calls you to be patient of spirit as you set your mind on something. If your goal is to read God’s Word every day without fail, then tend to your responsibilities, but try getting up a little earlier. If your goal is to walk five miles a day, start with one mile and work your way up. If your goal is to set a new sales record, then study the current leader and carefully implement his strategies.
Slow, steady progress beats quick, emotional commitment every time. The end is better than the beginning.
