PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
It is in Matthew thirteen where we have the lesson on the sowing of seed. The lesson is also found in Luke 8:11–15.
While both accounts are very much alike in the details which are given, Luke does provide us with a word which Matthew does not. In verse 15, as Jesus is explaining the parable to His disciples, He concludes by informing them that those who receive the Word of God and keep it will bring forth fruit “WITH PATIENCE.”
First, let us consider how Webster defines patience: “The state, quality, ability, or fact of being patient; specifically, a) the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint. B) steadiness, endurance, or perseverance in performing a task.”
· Patience is a virtue.
A virtue that many of us lack. Or, a virtue which many of us have in short supply. As the prayer goes: “Lord, I need patience, and I need it right now!”
In considering the word patience we find something that is quite interesting to me. Patience is a New Testament word! It is never found employed in the Old Testament! The closest thing to it in the Old Testament is that found in Ecclesiastes 7:8: “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
In 1Kings twenty there is an interesting conversation which takes place between the king of Syria, Benhadad, and Ahab, king of Israel. Benhadad threatened Ahab and Israel with utter destruction. He states in verse ten: “The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.”
The response Ahab sends back to Benhadad is unique: “And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.”
In other words, the battle is not over with yet. The victor has not been recognized yet. Those who are putting on their harness are merely getting ready for battle. It is the one who is in the process of taking his off that has finished the battle.
The battles of life, while they are most assuredly very trying, are many times not as difficult as the preparations needed before hand. Usually the battles of life are won or lost in the preparation room BEFORE the battle ever takes place. This is where patience comes into play many times. We can get hasty and make foolish decisions which result in defeat instead of victory.
There are some battles in life which are not worth winning! Regardless of how certain it may appear that you can win this battle you are facing; it will always be wise to ask for guidance from the Lord before engaging in any kind of conflict.
Let us say you win the battle with someone who appears to be your enemy. Let us say you put him in his place and embarrass him terribly with defeat. What have you really accomplished? You may feel that you showed him a thing or two. But did you lose a brother in the process?
PATIENCE
Romans 5:3,4: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”
The trials which come into the life of the child of God is not to destroy you, but to strengthen and
benefit you in your walk with God. After you have come through a trying time you have strength
that you did not have before. Your faith is strengthened. On the other hand, if we give in to the
pressures exerted against us during those trying times, we will come out weaker and more frustrated. Hebrews 10:36: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
There are three Greek words translated “patience” in the New Testament. One of them is
translated “patience” 28 times; this is one place where it is found. This word speaks of “cheerful
endurance.” Or, “continuance (waiting).”
It is more than just sitting still and waiting for a change to take place. It is enduring these times
with a cheerful attitude and outlook on what is happening in your life. There are those who can out-wait a problem, but they do it with a snarl and a growl.
One other Greek word is translated “patience” three times, which speaks of “to be long-spirited.”
The third Greek word translated “patience” is only found twice in the New Testament; James 5:10 and Hebrews 6:12. The same Greek word is usually translated “longsuffering.”
Hebrews 12:1: “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.”
The center-column in one of my Bibles has this word meaning “persistence.” The race in which we are engaged demands of us a persistence if we expect to make it to the finish line. One thing which is lacking in so many lives is a persistent consistency! While it is true, we will have our valley experiences as well as our mountain-top experiences; but when it comes to our attitude toward making it to that city, that should never waver.
James 1:4, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
This speaks to us of the surrendering of our will to God. He knows what is best for our lives. He knows what will bring us to maturity and perfection. We don’t; we just think we do. If we learn to accept His will for us, we will experience strength that could never be known any other way.
The surrendered “will” James speaks of here is more than just a surrender of will, but it also carries with it the thought of a determined surrender. The NIV translates the first part of this verse: “Perseverance must finish its work.”
The idea behind God permitting troubles to come into our lives is to bring His children to a
complete, mature, condition in the Spirit. God never allowed troubles to come to any of His
children for the purpose of destroying them, nor to weaken them, but to bring them into a
realm of greater strength and maturity.
The statement that “perseverance must finish its work” indicates progress and development, the result of which may well be described as maturity. Thus, perseverance in facing trials develops maturity of character and a balance of all the graces and strengths needed for the Christian life.
This persevering patience will lead us to a condition in which we will be “perfect and entire.” Or, if you will, complete and mature in Christ.
2Peter 1:6, “And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.”
To consider the importance of patience in our life, we must also consider what Peter states in the preceding verse: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…”
The point is Peter is informing us TO ADD these virtues to our lives! They are not something which comes automatically when we are filled with the Holy Ghost. They are attributes which we must add to our experience with God. The lazy and indifferent will never know the depths of these virtues in their life.
Patience does not come accidently — nor automatically. It only comes through our desire for it to
be manifest in our lives. It comes only through our determined effort to experience this wonderful quality of the Christ-like life.
THEY THAT WAIT
It was the prophet Isaiah who stated: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles,’ they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
The prophet in this verse informs us of the wonderful results of waiting patiently on the Lord to
fulfill His will in our lives. There will be added strength like the strength of the eagle. We will be
given strength to run the race of life without becoming weary with life’s many uneven ways.
PATIENCE, BEAUTIFUL PATIENCE
Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility. Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride. It bridles the tongue, restrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom.
Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty in the state, harmony in families and societies. It comforts the poor and moderates the rich. It makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calamity and reproach. It teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; it delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving; it adorns the woman, and approves the man: it is beautiful in either sex and every age.
Patience is clothed in the robes of the martyrs and in its hand, it holds a scepter in the form of a
cross. It rides not in the whirlwind and stormy tempest of passion; but its throne is the humble and contrite heart, and its kingdom is the kingdom of peace.
