In meeting a new brother recently the topic of patience came up and I decided to do an article on it for teaching purposes. Many people have their own made up notion of what biblical patience really is and we can assume as always God's word will set us straight in this area as we seek the truth. We will see what it is in minor and major ways and we will see ...what it is NOT!
The New Testament Word has 33 references to the word patience.
In the Greek the word is mä-kro-thü-me'-ō and it means:
"to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart, to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles, to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others, to be mild and slow in avenging, to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish".
Most people will say that they believe patience is most of all something we must have with others. Is that really true and the over riding theme when we look to scripture and patience? Let's find out as we review all of the verses that directly deal with patience "towards others".
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Matt 18:26
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Matt 18:29
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:11
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Titus 2:2
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2 Peter 1:16
Out of the 33 verses that deal with patience in the NT Word; ONLY 6 directly involve patience with each others / someone else.
Note: Even the word "long suffering" which has the same basic meaning as patience appears 11 times in the NT and less then half of them are about long suffering with each other. That said patience and long suffering is a fruit of God's spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:22
But patience / long suffering in what?
My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing
James 1:2-8
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Romans 5;3
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:25
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:12
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
Hebrews 12;1
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:3
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:4
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5;11
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:3
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:12
In these verses above we read that patience is most of all is us waiting on and in the faith, trials, suffering, tribulations and even waiting on God Himself. In fact in 27 of the 33 verses on patience are all about us patiently being in the faith and waiting on God and our own spiritual walk. That will surprise many people I believe.
So what have we learned?
See the fact is that patience is in a smaller part about being patient ( or long suffering ) with others, but the main focus of God's Word is the patience we must all have to endure in the faith and waiting on God and His promises. The truth is if we are patient in the Word, truth, the Spirit and in Christ Himself, looking to God first and foremost, we will indeed grow in our patience for each other as fruit amen? (If we strive to have patience with others most (being man centered) and not be looking to faith in God most of all, we will fail in our walk) We MUST patiently endure.... in the faith; that is the key!
Do you want more patience with your wife, children and co workers? Then look to God daily most of all in your faith and enduing in Him to grow you. Then you will have the fruit of patience and long suffering with others for sure!
A good example that shows the importance of this self patience:
I know of a 18 year old young man in Ireland who started walking well after Christ and bore good fruit. But sadly; because he lost patience in his young walk and new found faith; he started to turn back, doubt and fall away. He did not choose to remain and let God have His way in patience. I fear for him as, I love him. Let that NOT be so among God's people as we must endure in patience and not ever fall back!
I think this very important factor must also be noted.
What do we see that we are to NOT told to be patient about?
Modern views of God and denominational / easy believe religion today have most people thinking we are to be patient ( over look ) when it comes to other believers living in sin, rebellion and lukewarmness vs full obedience to the Word of God.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
In fact, there is NOT one single verse on patience that ever instructs us to be patient with sin or rebellion in ourselves or those who call themselves believers in Christ! Quite the opposite is true as we are commanded to deal with sin ( it kills ) and to put out those people who will not repent / leave their sin as a act of godly love to led them to repentance. ( Matt 18, 1 Cor 5 , 1 Tim 5, Romans 16:17 , 2 Thess 3 and Titus 3 ...as a few examples )
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
1 Tim 5;20
We do indeed need to be patient with those who are learning, striving in the faith and obedience daily. But most of all we need to be patient within ourselves as we strive in the faith, to grow, endure and look unto God / Christ til He comes again or we see Him face to face! Without that patience in Him via faith, we will NOT remain.
The enemy satan is a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) seeking to devour saints. He wants nothing more then to discourage you, defeat your faith and confound your efforts to remain in Christ. He is a LIAR! Christ has already defeated him and death, now we must patiently remain!
Thank you for patiently reading this article :) I pray it has helped you to grasp a biblical view of the word patience, its importance and how we are to live it out daily for God's glory.
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