We are told patience is a virtue, but it is certainly one that very few people truly possess. Becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically bestow this virtue upon us, either. Patience comes with maturity, particularly for us Christians.
It’s human nature to what what we want when we want it. Society has become so technologically advanced that we really don’t need to wait on anything anymore. Hungry? We have microwaves to warm up leftovers or a TV dinner.
If those leftovers aren’t too appetizing, even the smallest towns have a plethora of fast food places where we merely sit in our vehicles and have our dinner handed to us.
Want to know the distance between your location and a certain city or landmark? Simply pick up the super-fast smart phone and ask Siri for the info. Speaking of information, Google has made information of all varieties available at our fingertips.
Home security services can pair with our smart phones to open the garage door, turn on entryway lights into our home, and even adjust the temperature of our homes as we drive home from a day at the office.
We humans no longer need to wait for much of anything anymore. It’s easy to see why none of us possesses much in the way of patience.
Yet, the Bible tells us that rewards come to those who possess perseverance. Why? Why should we try to cultivate patience in a world that promotes a life of convenience?
Luke 8:15 ESV
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Have you ever tried to grow anything? It certainly doesn’t happen overnight. However, when we take the time to nourish seeds that we’ve planted, we are rewarded with beautiful crops, and eventually, food.
Here, Luke is reminding us that when we take time to put in work, we will be rewarded – even if it doesn’t seem to come too quickly.
Romans 15:4-6 NIV
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Again, perseverance is mentioned in this verse. God is reminding us to be patient.
Romans 12:12 ESV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Patience grows as we hope and pray for the future.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . . .
Paul was one of the greats of Biblical times. He knew all too well about being patient and persevering until the end.
Psalm 37:7-9
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Note, God tells us that if we have “hope in the Lord,” we will be rewarded. This is a common theme in much of these verses!
Proverbs 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Part of being patient is being slow to anger. We are reminded to be patient with others, and not to be angered easily. This part of patience is a sheer example of our Christian faith. When we have conflict with others, as we are bound to do, we must be patient and work to keep our tempers at bay.
Patience is difficult to come by, but something the Bible tells us is important to our walk with God. By having patience, we are proper examples and we will be rewarded for our efforts.