“Love is patient.” 1 Corinthians 13:4.
This month we reflect on the fruit of love called patience. Patience is bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint, holding back under provocation or strain, not being hasty or impetuous, or remaining steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
It seems to me that patience is a wonderful gift to have, because life is full of these circumstances that we must endure or respond to: opposition, difficulty, adversity, pain, trials, provocation, or strain. Notice that the word “waiting” is not part of the definition of patience, yet we often refer to patience as the ability to wait. But we all know that we can be impatient in waiting. Waiting is letting time pass, but patience is a disposition of discipline while waiting.
God’s infinite love of us reflects His patience with us. We provoke Him in our rejection, rebellion, opposition, and disobedience to Him and His ways. Paul’s famous description of love in his first letter to the Corinthians begins with “Love is patient.” It has been said that patience is love’s endurance. Love endures all situations through patience.
However, in this era of technology and precision, we have come to expect perfection and efficiency in almost everything to the point that we eschew patience. Instead of seeking patience, we are running from it! As a case in point, I have heard more than one devout Christian say that they will not pray for patience because God might answer their prayer by allowing a situation that requires patience, as a way of teaching them to be patient. That kind of response is revealing about what people think of patience in comparison to other fruits of the Spirit. They are afraid of being blessed with patience. Someone would not say that about goodness or joy or peace. “Of course, I would want to be blessed with those fruits. But not patience; that means I have to endure adversity or pain or wait a long time for something I want now.”
In jest, I have heard the oxymoronic statement, “I want patience and I want it now!” We might laugh at that request, but it may be closer to our own desire than we might admit.
Patience is God’s gift to us that enables us to endure the pains and calamities of life and to know that in the midst of our trials and tribulations, He still loves us. We cannot have healthy, loving relationships without patience. Love is patient, love begets patience, love multiplies patience. So if we lack patience, our love is not complete.
Read the book of Job. The experience of Job is a classical demonstration of patience in action. Job is a righteous man who was blessed by God with plenty of good things. Then he endures calamities and hardships involving personal loss of family, wealth, security, health, and reputation. Although his integrity was questioned by his friends, Job’s ability to endure through all these hardships was based on his trust in God, in believing that God is Sovereign of the universe and has all authority to give—and take away—all these things, and, finally, to accept that only God knows why things happen as they do. Pray that God would lavish you with the patience of Job.
Next month we will examine grace as a manifestation of love.
Doug