[Ecc 7:5-9] The End of a Matter Is Better Than Its Beginning(Lim)

Ecclesiastes 7:5-9

⁵ It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
       than to listen to the song of fools.

 ⁶ Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
       so is the laughter of fools.
       This too is meaningless.

 ⁷ Extortion turns a wise man into a fool,
       and a bribe corrupts the heart.

 ⁸ The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
       and patience is better than pride.

 ⁹ Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
       for anger resides in the lap of fools.

             Solomon is rather serious as he continues to dwell on the subject of wisdom.  He is adamant in distinguishing between the wise and the foolish.  As we look at this passage today, we would want to be considered wise rather than foolish.  Just as there is a clear difference between darkness and light, so there is between what is foolish and wise.  Which side would we find ourselves on today?  Look at verse 5.

It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

            People are always more eager to hear things that are pleasant to their ears.  No one wants to hear criticism or rebuke.  However, Solomon proposes that it is better to pay attention to a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to what foolish people would say even if it sounds sweet to our ears.  Solomon basically sees people in two categories.  There are the wise and the foolish.  No one enjoys hearing rebuke for rebuke stings our ego.  We like to surround ourselves with those who usually say things that we want to hear.  However, that is not necessarily helpful to us or of benefit to us. 

            When we are open to a wise man’s rebuke, we benefit immensely from such occasion.  Throughout the history, those who were in a position of leadership have failed miserably once they surrounded themselves with those who only offered what was pleasing to their ears.  We have tendency to close our hearts and minds when we hear things that are unpleasant. Although songs may be easier to listen than rebuke, they do not help us in the end.  When we are moving in the wrong direction, we need to hear rebuke from the wise so that we may turn back from our current path that may lead to destruction. 

            Jesus came to our world that He may teach us the path to heaven.  He preached the message of repentance to all who would heed Him.  Jesus told multitudes of people that the path to destruction is wide and that many choose that path.  When we are rebuked by Jesus to confess our sins and turn to Him for salvation, we must take heed and hear his rebuke.

            Solomon offers one more comment on this in verse 6.

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

            When we burn thorns under the pot to cook something, the dried thorns would crackle.  It makes noise but quickly burns.  Thorns will not withstand the heat.  Solomon compares this to the laughter of fools.  Fools may laugh a great deal but those laughs will not have any profound impact other than to simply burn in the fire.  When fools laugh for they are unaware of the impending doom, they will perish in their ignorance.  As we live in our finite world with finite time allotted to us, we want to hear the serious rebuke from our Creator about the coming judgment.  One day, we will stand before God and will have to give account for our lives.  When that time comes upon us, there is no recourse.  We will receive His righteous judgment.

            Today is the day that we want to hear God’s calling to be reconciled with Him.  God has made the provision for us to come to Him through Jesus Christ.  Have we acknowledged our sins before Him and seek His forgiveness of our sins that we may live in His kingdom eternally?  We will find out how foolish we may have been if we do not take heed to God’s rebuke and spurn His call to repentance.  Let’s look at verse 7.

Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

            Solomon now shares what he thinks about negative power of money.  As we are well aware, money is integral part of our existence here on earth.  Money enables us to maintain certain standard of life.  There are always those who have more money and then there are those who have less.  In free market economy, we receive just compensation for our work and with what we earn we are able to support ourselves and our families.  So, money is common medium by which we conduct transactions as part of our life.  Sometimes, this quest or greed for money causes us to pursue certain endeavors that are not honorable.  Money has strong attractions that sway people to do dishonorable things.  One such example is extortion.  Some people employ extortion to extract money from others who have no recourse. 

            And Solomon rightfully defines this as being a foolish activity.  A wise man who turns to extortion becomes a fool.  Everyone has a potential to engage in this kind of shameful activity.  We could be wise people but we are not exempt from the possibility of turning into fools.  Also, Solomon claims a bribe corrupts the heart.  Here is another serious matter.  Our heart becomes corrupt when we avail ourselves to bribery.  Bribery signifies dishonesty and false witness.  Bribery is meant to sway someone to make decision not based on merit but on wrong agenda or hidden motives. 

            Many examples in our world attest to bribery.  From officials in the government to corporate executives, our society is fraught with corruption.  Bribery has become all too common in all walks of life in all cultures around the world.  There are those who commit this heinous act dressed in business suit and tie and there are those who are nothing more than common criminals who are quick to make some ill gotten money by bribery.  The sad truth of the matter is that those who take bribes are in fact corrupting their own hearts.  When we commit these deplorable acts, we are hurting ourselves as we compromise our own values, principles and integrity. 

            Often, people who engage in this kind of extortion or bribery feel that they can get away or that no one will catch them.  However, we know very well that those who have taken bribes know in their hearts that they have done wrong.  It is not about being caught or being found out but it is all about making a compromise in one’s own heart.  Those who engage in bribery know very well in their own mind that they are guilty.  As we conduct ourselves in this world, we are reminded that we represent our risen Savior, Jesus Christ who died on the cross.  As we engage ourselves with other people in the world, how can we not conduct ourselves other than as redeemed sinners through Christ’s blood?  It should be said of us that when we speak, we speak with integrity and honor.  And it should be said of us that when we act, we do so with dignity and humility.  Now, let us look at verse 8.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

            Now, we have Solomon offering his wisdom on the subject of how we finish the race.  We usually think beginning is important.  This is why we celebrate birthdays and weddings as these events signal beginning of a newly born child or newly wedded couples.  However, the end of a matter is better than its beginning.  This means how that newly born child lives his life is far more significant than how he came into this world.  Indeed a birthday is important for a newly born baby but it is far more important how that baby grows up and finishes the gift of life. 

            And we know that everyone comes together for friends’ weddings.  We have elaborate custom of celebrating weddings with ceremony and decked out dinner receptions.  But statistics show about half of these marriages end up in divorce.  What a terrible tragedy!  When a couple comes together and stays married happily for their entire life, we would see that as an indication that their marriage was a successful one.  We look favorably upon those elderly couples who have been through tough times and good times throughout decades of marriage.  Such marriages still exist today but seem they are getting fewer and fewer unfortunately. 

            Foolish people would think of the beginning as more important than the ending.  So, they would expend more energy as they begin only to find out later that they couldn’t finish what they began.  Finishing strong is far more significant than starting strong.  In a race, everyone lines up as close to the start line as possible to get an edge but starting line is not that important once the race begins.  What is important is the finish line.  Starting out fastest in a race doesn’t guarantee crossing the finish line first. 

            Our life is a lot like the running race.  There was a starting point and there will be an ending point.  How we live between the starting point and ending point is what truly matters.  How we end the race counts more than how we began the race.   

            Solomon also says patience is better than pride.  Patience is more measured and restrained than something that is done out of pride.  Whenever we act on our pride, we are likely to make more mistakes.  Pride often clouds our decision and we are prone to make rash or illogical decisions.  Patience on the other hand allows us to see how things develop and forces us to make better informed decision and therefore wiser decision in the end.  When we pause a bit, we give ourselves time and room to see things for what they are.  However, when we are caught up in the heat of the moment, we often make rash decisions that we will regret later.  In this vein, Solomon continues to exhort us how we should interact with people in verse 9.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

            Solomon cautions us not to be quickly provoked in our spirit.  We are created in God’s image and are unique as we are spiritual beings.  Unlike the wild beasts in the field, we have spirit.  Therefore being provoked in spirit for us means something quite different from animals who act on their survival instincts.  Wild animals will attack because they are hungry and merely follow their instincts.  However, when we are provoked in spirit, this implies that we are manipulated into doing something foolish because we feel we have been slighted or offended.  Can we imagine lion in safari attacking a gazelle because the lion felt the gazelle offended it?  It would be silly to think that way but such is the case with us.  We are often quickly provoked in spirit and what we do as a result does not bring glory to God. 

            There are those in this world who either knowingly or unknowingly bait us to do things that are not of benefit to us in the end.  More often than not, anger or wrath causes nothing but more problems.  Foolish people throughout the history have made rash decisions based on their anger and brought about their own demise.  When we get angry in our spirit, we lose the ability to make rational and informed decisions.  Consequence of such irrational decision is troubling.  In wars, battles have been lost because of such phenomenon at work. 

            Cain killed Abel, his own brother as he was overcome by anger.  The Bible tells us that Cain was very angry and that his face was downcast.  Because Cain was angry, the decision he made was to kill his brother in cold blood.  We can see what a foolish decision Cain made when he was angry.  We can only imagine how Cain felt after he committed such act when he came to his senses and realized what he had done.  It seems foolish people make decisions on impulse rather than well thought out decision making process.  Only when we are led by God’s Spirit, are we able to make sound decisions. 

            When we trust in Jesus Christ, and are led by the Holy Spirit, we can be confident that decisions we make will honor God and bring glory to His name.  Solomon tells us that this seeming irrational anger resides in the lap of fools.  Foolish people are those who are easily angered and easily provoked.  Even in situations where we feel we are just in getting angry because someone wronged us, we know that this kind of response from us can never result in good of those around us. 

            We have encountered many instances in homes, churches, work and social settings where people fight and show their anger.  Can we remember if anything positive ever resulted from such encounters where people were provoked?  When we get angry, our raw emotions take over and results in drastic response that causes nothing but more trouble.

            In times when we feel overwhelmed, we want to avail ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us and let Him bring sense of calm and peace in midst of our turmoil.  When we do surrender ourselves to Holy Spirit, we will be surprised how quickly we find ourselves at peace.  Anger does not bring glory to God no matter how hard we try to justify it. 

            Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:22 as follows.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

            Jesus tells us that being angry with our brother will be subject to judgment.  Also, when Jesus was telling the story about the prodigal son, he notes of the older brother as being angry.  Look at Luke 15:28. 

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

            Even in this occasion, Jesus is teaching us that being angry is not in God’s will for our lives.  As we live in this world as Christians, we ought to remember this even as we are wronged and others inadvertently do things to hurt us.  We remember that God who was willing to send His own Son, Jesus Christ to die on our behalf would care for all our needs.  He knows better than anyone in the world what we are going through.  We have the assurance from God that He indeed watches over all that we do and cares for us deeply. 

            Ultimately our Lord Jesus Christ as he was being crucified on the cross for the sins he did not commit, he died willingly while forgiving those who nailed Him to the cross.  He was never provoked to anger in His spirit.  Rather He looked on humanity with compassion.  Even as he was nailed, speared and thrust upon with a crown of thorn, he did not open his mouth.  Our Jesus exemplified the ultimate wise man. 

            Wise person shows measured response instead of emotional outbursts.  Foolish person is more interested in showing his folly through his explosive emotions.  No one really cares about the foolish person’s emotional outbursts.  They only see the irrational and unbridled anger being displayed by one who lacks wisdom.  When such scenes get played again and again, people usually draw an accurate conclusion that such person’s emotional outbursts bring nothing positive or value to the on-going discussions. 

            As we interact with people in this world, we represent Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  As we engage in our everyday activities, we want to emulate our Lord Jesus.