8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Whilst the end is certainly far more important than the beginning and we want to finish our own personal race far better than we started it, we need to interject a word of caution. It is not just finishing well that we want, we want to run well. Let me explain what I mean; the thief on the cross finished better than he started, however, he did not run well and although he was with the Lord in Paradise, he crossed the finish line empty! We want to finish better than we started, however, we do not want to finish empty. We want to be all out for God and run long and hard. If you are one who has wasted much time why not begin to cry out "O' Lord, redeem the time!!" God will take your new found commitment and multiply it for you so you can finish well...
9 “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Do not be one who has a quick temper or who becomes angry quickly; anger rests in the heart of the foolish. It is much better to be of a slow temper, how many times have people been stricken with remorse over loosing their temper. Anger is a character flaw; Proverbs addresses this flaw in character. Proverbs 14:17 - the angry man will behave foolishly; his temper makes him act from raw emotion. Proverbs 29:22 The angry man forces strife, he cannot let a matter settle until he stirs things up, he abounds in sin (anger can be linked to and associated with many sins and vices). Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Anger breaks down the walls of a believer and lets other sins rush in. Uncontrollable anger reveals one who has no control over their spirit. (See also Proverbs 16:32 – the one who rules his spirit is mighty).
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