The
theme continues as Solomon urges us to resist the pressures of greed,
pride, anger and exasperation – and to persevere in our calling
rather than falling away.
Oppression,
as the etymology of the word suggests, is a metaphorical pressure --
and under such pressure even a wise man may
become exasperated and tempted to act foolishly and impetuously rather
than patiently, possibly even resorting to the giving and taking of
bribes.
Are
we even willing to bribe others and so act
dishonestly in order to get our way – or to be bribed by those
who pay our salary into compromising our core values and doing things
that we know will hurt people, society or the environment just for the
sake of money?
However,
do we really know what we want to achieve and why? The end
is better than the beginning,
says Solomon, perhaps because by then confusion has been dispelled and
clarity of purpose has been achieved. Do we have the patience
to thoroughly analyze a situation, or do we jump to conclusions and
form snap judgments that we then proudly defend?
Are
we trying to achieve our end too quickly, out of pride,
simply to impress others? What Solomon seems to be saying is that just
as we might value and so resolutely pursue an end
objective, so must we also value patience
for its own sake over pride, and not let our
values be compromised.
Impatience easily leads fools to anger,
as James also warns when he says, Quote: “Take note of this –
Everyone should be slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s
anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires”
(James 1:19-20).
Patience is the very hallmark of good character
– and perhaps James has these verses in mind when he urges Christians
to regard the severe difficulties they will encounter in this world
as positive learning experiences, valuable opportunities for the development
of patience, saying, Quote: “Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because
you know that the testing our faith develops patience.
Let patience have her perfect work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
Does
impatience also express itself in an exasperated yearning for a return
to the old days -- wishing perhaps that we
had never set out on our spiritual pilgrimage? Speaking to a man who
was eager to follow him, “but not yet”, Jesus says, Quote:
“No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit
for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Christianity
is a divine calling, a vocation, a total commitment and not an easy
one -- a new way of life, not an interesting add-on to an old, unchanged
and comfortable one, as Jesus explains in a short parable of deep meaning
when he says, Quote: “No-one pours new wine into old
wine-skins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine
will run out and the wine-skins will be ruined. No, new wine must be
poured into new wine-skins. And no-one drinking old wine
wants the new, for he says, The old is better” (Luke 5:36-39).
Speaking
of faithful servants of God, such as Abraham, who made and maintained
a total commitment, even leaving their homeland in some cases, Paul
says, Quote: “If they had been thinking of the country they had
left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were
longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is
not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them”
(Hebrews 11:15-16).
Sadly,
even some of Paul’s associates in the work of God fell away and
forsook their calling and were tempted back to the easier and more comfortable
old life, as Paul explains, saying, Quote:
“Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone
to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10).
In
another place, Paul says to struggling Christians, Quote: “Remember
those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood
your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering . . . So do
not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need
to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive
what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:32 & 35).