How To Live Faithfully - Patience

 

From: TFTW Bible Collge

Patience may be defined as the practice of temperance consistently over time. In other words, someone who exercises self-control over and over again may be called a “patient” person.

Patience is one of those things that doesn’t come just by knowledge and understanding. It takes trials and tribulations. It takes chances for us to need to exercise self-control. And times, when we need to exercise self-control, maybe some of the harder times. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” (Romans 5:3) “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:3) But, if we can consistently exercise self-control over time, then we will be adding patience to our lives. 

The parable of the sower talks about the seed that had no root and only endured for a time. “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mark 4:16-17) When troubled times came, these people were not rooted and so they did not endure. When adversity comes, we must be patient and endure. What can we do to make sure we are rooted and that we patiently endure?

We can be patient and rooted because we understand that this life is temporary and anything we have is not really ours. When Job lost his possessions and children he reacted with a patient attitude. “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) Hardships and perseverance are temporary, but life in Heaven with God is eternal. When you lose something in this life you lost something you never had to begin with and would never be able to take with you.

We can be patient and rooted because we understand that life has good and bad in it. That’s just the way it is in this sin-cursed world! “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) Everyone on this Earth gets both good and bad.

We can be patient and rooted because we know in whose hand we live. Remember, that God has not forgotten His faithful children. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)

We can also be patient and rooted because we must be patient in order to obtain salvation. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)