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"The patient in spirit"

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:8

FURTHER COMPARISONS

Solomon attempted to make many comparisons. This approach helped in some ways to understand some matters. However, the comparisons made are rather broad. Care must be taken not to read too much into the observations made. In order to understand a matter further, greater research must be made.

“The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8

1. The end and the beginning

a) Many celebrate the beginning:

i) The beginning of life

ii) The beginning of a new company

iii) The beginning of marriage

b) But many things can affect adversely:

i) An untimely death

ii) Failure of a venture

iii) A bad marriage

c) There is nothing wrong in the celebration of beginning.

d) Wisdom teaches us the following:

i) The beginning is not everything.

ii) Development and growth are just as important.

e) The end

i) The ending of life can be significant.

ii) The ending of a venture can be even more important than the beginning.

f) The point of this comparison

i) To look beyond the beginning.

ii) To develop with the end in mind.

iii) This is the path of true wisdom.

2. “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”

a) The “spirit” is a reference to

i) The internal part of a person.

ii) The “soul” is in mind.

iii) This is the invisible part of a person.

iv) It is just as important as the external (the body).

b) Two aspects of the spirit compared:

i) The patient in spirit

ii) The proud in spirit

c) The patient person (spirit of the person)

i) He is humble.

ii) He is not impatient when he has to wait his turn.

iii) He is not easily angered because he is understanding.

d) The proud person (spirit of the person)

i) He is not humble.

ii) He is impatient if he is made to wait.

iii) He lacks understanding and is easily angered.

e) The point of this comparison

i) To point out the weakness and deficiency of the proud spirit.

ii) To commend the person who has learned patience.