Tis the Season to be...Patient

Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 08 December 2001 19:00

The Person You Always Wanted to Be

I discovered this week that a quick survey of magazine articles related to the benefits of patience yields a mother lode that crosses into every imaginable genre, including: Redbook, Los Angeles Business Journal, Golf Magazine,  Business News, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Field and Stream, and The American Salesman, just to mention a few. Clearly, patience is widely recognized as a valuable character quality.

BENEFITS:

We are not surprised that the Bible trumpets the benefits of patience:

• Patience is persuasive

Proverbs 25:15

"(15) Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."

• Patience enhances relationships

Proverbs 15:18

"(18) A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."

• According to this passage, it makes resolve possible.

• Other passages suggest that we can be in relationships very long without it.

•  Patience is one of the characteristics we need when we face difficult trials.

Romans 12:12

"(12) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

• In fact, the implication is that without patience we will miss what God is doing and what He has in store for us.

James 5:7-8

"(7) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. (8) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

(Ray Schmidt testimony...)

We want to be more patient people, no doubt. And we want it right now! But we don't know how.

We are told that patience is a fruit of the Spirit. This means that it is the result of God's activity in our lives. We have tried to make the point for several weeks that we do not get at the fruit of the Spirit by the direct route. We cannot become more patient or more joyful through will power. Instead, we must learn to rely on God. We must learn the habits of living by the Spirit. But we need to add a new dimension to our discussion today and there's no better place to add it than at the intersection of our character and patience.

So here's our new addition: not only is the fruit of the Spirit a byproduct of the work of the Spirit in our lives, but we must also choose it. We have to embrace and take up what God is working into our lives. Through active obedience, we have to accept and live out God's work in us. For example, concerning patience the Bible says:

Colossians 3:9-10, 12

"(9) Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices (10) and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

(12) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

In other words, you cannot simply sit back, live your life any old way and expect God to bring fruit to bear in you and through you. You must choose the fruit that He makes available to you as you practice living in the Spirit.

Here's an illustration: It's like living near oil fields. Then inheriting them. You still have to occupy and drill down. The key to being more patient is to inherit God's fruit and then to choose it.

CHOOSING PATIENCE

So what does it mean to choose patience? How do we do that? When kids won't get ready ? When I'm in a hurry and someone slow is in my lane ? When Diane asks me to fix something and I have to go to Home Depot for the third time ? How do I choose patience in those moments?

I want to start with two observations:

First, on the surface, patience is really a time problem. It's algebra actually.

Situation "A" + Time Elapsed "B" = Smooth sailing {As long as "B" = my expectations}

However;

Situation "A" + Time Elapsed "B" = Rough waters to the degree of "X" {"X" being equal to my level of impatience

It's interesting that the Hebrew word for "impatience" literally means "long time". Sometimes, translators use our English word "patience" to translate the Hebrew phrase "long time to anger". Patience is really a time problem.

In my second observation, I think it will be helpful to divide the occasions that call for patience into two categories. These categories are somewhat artificial and they bleed into one another, but I still think it will be helpful for us. There are, first of all, mundane occasions that call for everyday patience. This often involves being patient with other people who muck up our plans like slow drivers or slow children. Let's separate this out from long-term trials and difficulties which call for epic patience or marathon patience. This often involves being patient with God or with those who are in closest relationship with us. So let's look at these two kinds of patience and see what the Bible has to say about how we get there.

Concerning everyday patience the Bible says this:

Colossians 3:12-13

"(12) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (13) Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Turns out the key to everyday patience is not stuffing your anger! In fact, the Bible says, "in your anger do not sin," acknowledging that anger happens, but the devastating negative consequences that follow from anger do not have to happen. As it turns out, the key to choosing everyday patience is recognizing what God has done for you. "Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord has forgiven you" ?

• Reminded of the Lord's prayer
• Has God been patient with you? Has He cut you slack? Has He extended grace toward you.
• Interesting that we are commanded to forgive,

• Not overlook - this is enabling.

• Not turn a blind eye - this is denial. o Sometimes people look patient because they're letting others run over them. o The Bible calls for healthy, robust patience. No wonder patience is such a big deal in the Bible. No wonder God gives it such a prominent place in the profile of the people we want to be. Patience is not just a time problem. It's a grace problem! The more we understand the grace God has extended toward us, the easier patience will be.

• BELIEVER: When tempted to be impatient, remember God's activity on your behalf. Remember what He has done for you.

Concerning marathon patience:

2 Peter 3:3-4, 9, 15

"(3) First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. (4) They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

(9) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(15) Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him."

As we said this kind of patience is often directed at God, and what seems like His inaction. As it turns out choosing patience toward God doesn't mean convincing yourself there's nothing to worry about and no cause for doubt! There will be scoffers. Our faith will be tested. Choosing patience with God and His activity means recognizing what God is doing for you (2 Peter 3:9,15). He is in the process of saving us. That's what His "slowness" means. You see patience over the long run is not just a time problem. It's a faith problem. When we get impatient with God we are really doubting that He will come through.

Last week we talked about peace. The first cousin of this peace is patience.

Last week we said that we find peace with God, not through obedience to a set of rules, nor through observance of ritual, nor through a vague set of beliefs. We find peace with God through life-changing, mind-altering, will-bending faith. This faith finds its clearest expression in believing God before we see evidence of what He promises. This is what Abraham did

Galatians 3:6

"(6) Consider Abraham: He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

This is what Ray is doing. He has faith that God will provide and that what he provides is good - even if it surprises him.

This faith, if it is real, will exercise itself in patience.