BETTER IS THE END

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof”
(Ecclesiastes 7:8).

It’s easy to embark on a new vision or project with a “hiss and a roar.” But as time goes on, our enthusiasm wanes. Sometimes we peter out altogether. I understand this in the ministry of Above Rubies which I began over 41 years ago with a heavy vision from God upon my heart. I could not have not done it! But I realized as I began the journey that it is perspiration that keeps something going. Someone once said that a vision is often “One percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” True. It doesn’t happen without daily plodding and faithfulness.

It is the same with the greatest institutions of life—marriage and family. God ordained these powerful foundations before church, before government, and before schools. Because they are God ordained, we don’t stop half-way through. We dare not stop before the finishing line. It’s all the way to the end.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 says: “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” It’s not so much how we start, but how we end.

Perhaps you didn’t get a good start to your marriage. Or even with motherhood. You came into motherhood unprepared and not knowing what you were doing. Don’t despair. I know you are learning as you go. You are mothering better with each baby God gives you. You grow stronger as you mother. Remember, it’s not so much the beginning but the end that counts.

Keep pressing on. Keep seeking God for the way He wants you to be a wife and mother. Always keep learning. And keep fighting the fight of faith. Keep on until the end.

JESUS finished His work. He confessed in John 4:34: “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish His work.” He said again in John 17:4: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

PAUL also made these same confessions. Acts 20:24: “But none of these things move me (the fact they he was going to face prison and afflictions), neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus.”

What is the ministry you have received from God? If He has graciously given you children, this is your greatest ministry at hand—to nurture and train them. And it’s not only when our children are young, but mothering extends to the end of our days. We are always a mother. When our children grow up and leave the nest, we become an older mother to younger mothers and we are always available for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Paul confesses again in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Let’s look at this Scripture a little more closely.

1. Paul FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

We are certainly in a fight for families in our nations today, aren’t we? Because the family is God’s idea, the enemy is out to destroy it. Because motherhood is
God’s ultimate plan for women, the devil hates it and wants to destroy it.

In this hour of history, we face a fierce fight. Feminism, humanism, the media, and public education have brainwashed the majority of women to think that motherhood is insignificant and unworthy of their time. Because we know this is deception, we fight against the tide. We will not give in. We will fight a good fight. We fight on the side of life. We embrace our calling because we know it comes from God. We will not only embrace motherhood with all our hearts but fight against the deceptions in our society. We fight to destroy the works of the enemy. 

Nehemiah 4:14: “Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible (awesome), and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

2. Paul FINISHED THE RACE

This is the important thing. We will not give up until the end. I love to talk about the four watches of motherhood—first, second, third, and fourth. Many mothers flake out in the fourth watch. This is the watch when our children have grown. Many think it is their time to give up pouring out their lives for others and look after themselves. But no, God’s commission is to the older women to teach and encourage the younger women. If we do not do this, we fail the next generation.

3. Paul was FAITHFUL to the end.

The NLT says: “I have remained faithful.” Paul remained faithful through hardships, discouragement, imprisonments, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, danger, robbings, weariness, painfulness, hunger, thirst, destitution, plus the care of all the churches. Surely, we can remain faithful through the few trials we face.

And never forget, there will be a reward. 2 Timothy 4:8 continues: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

PRAYER:

“Thank You, Father, for wooing me on to the end. I don’t want to stop in the race halfway. I want to be faithful to the end. Please help me each day to be faithful. Faithful in the little things, the mundane things, the ordinary things, for this enables me to be faithful in the big things. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m not giving up. I’m going all the way to the end.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com