What is love, and what are its qualities? The Christian must know the answer to this question. Love toward fellow men is a non-negotiable element in the life of the Christian. The one who does not love he of whom he can see does not love God, the One Whom he cannot see. As a result, the Christian must diligently study the topic of love in the Word of God and pray for the Holy Spirit’s work in his heart.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he addressed his letter to the Saints in Corinth. Therefore, the Corinthians were, in large part, believers. They had accepted Christ and were born again. However, while not technically being in the flesh, many of them lived for the flesh. The flesh characterized their living.
Paul called them carnal rather than mature in 1 Corinthians 3:1, but at the same time, in 1 Corinthians 3:16, he told them that the Spirit of God dwelled within them. So what was their problem? Simply put, they were of the flesh and were therefore living for themselves. Their lives were not characterized by love but by self. They had many gifts, and God was gracious to them. Many of them had giftings in speech and knowledge. However, let us not forget that Paul told them that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
When we get to 1 Corinthians 12-14, we encounter Paul spending much time on their ministry one to another. Paul spoke of the gifts and their proper use. But the most important factor that Paul discussed with them concerning their ministry to each other is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Paul said, “Charity suffereth long…” (KJV, 1 Cor. 13:4). Unfortunately, the word longsuffering is not used in modern translations, apart from the NKJV.
Instead, we read of patience. While the word patience is not bad, longsuffering hits the nail on the head. Longsuffering speaks of the need to persevere amid pain. It speaks to the reality of living in this fallen world as the Christian will be assaulted and met with much affliction while needing to honor God and live for His glory.
Nevertheless, since longsuffering is an essential component of biblical love, it is essential to develop a biblical understanding of longsuffering.
The example of God
The necessary place to start with such a study is God Himself. For one to seek to be longsuffering without such a foundation would be foolish. God must be seen as the goal of longsuffering rather than a command. Scripture says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). What a glorious picture of the longsuffering nature of God.
Peter speaks of the unbeliever and God’s disposition toward him. Peter tells us that Christ is going to return, all things will be made new, and God is not slow to fulfill this promise. Instead, God is longsuffering toward the unbeliever who continues to rebel against Him and express hatred toward Him. God bears under this treatment and suffers long, but He does so for a purpose. God does not desire for the unbeliever to perish but that He would repent of His sin.
Elsewhere we read, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). The longsuffering nature of God is meant to lead people to repentance.
Thus, when the Christian considers his love toward his fellow man, he must take note of the longsuffering nature of God. God had endured much so that the sinner could be brought into a right relationship with Him. Therefore, the Christian must go and do likewise.
The example of Christ
But the Christian must not stop there. He must look upon His Savior. This is not to say that Jesus is not God, for He is. However, Christ must be looked upon with fervor in the Christian life. Scripture says, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth” (Is. 53:7). In this verse, Christ has been set forth as an example for the Christian to follow.
The Bible tells us that Christ was oppressed and afflicted. This means that Christ endured much pain and suffering. However, what was Christ’s response? We read that Jesus did not open His mouth amid the affliction. The feat is remarkable when one considers the typical reaction when met with injustice.
Jesus was an innocent man Who was given a cross. He was spotless but declared guilty. The usual response in such a situation would be to get angry and let someone hear about it. However, during His trial, Jesus kept His composure and did not respond in the flesh but in the Spirit.
In Christ’s example, we see a valid response during affliction. We also see how the Christian will be called to suffer long for the sake of love. Sometimes the best approach is to keep silent.
It is important to remember that when Paul said, “Charity suffereth long…” (KJV, 1 Cor. 13:4), he was speaking about the Christians’ love and longsuffering toward his fellow man. Longsuffering is not what someone exercises when he waits for something in the mail, and it takes a long time. That would be patience. Longsuffering is not when someone waits for water to boil. That would be patience as well. Longsuffering is more relational than it is circumstantial.
The fruit of the Spirit
So where does this take us now? First, the Christian must see one’s personal effort does not bring about longsuffering. The Bible tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is… longsuffering…” (Gal. 5:22). Here we see that longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit. It is at this point that many go astray. The thought is often that since the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian, he should be able to suffer long. While the thought would not necessarily be wrong, it often leads to a wrong approach.
Simply put, we are told that longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit. It is not a fruit of man or man’s personal efforts. Self-confidence often stunts the Christians’ growth. Instead, the Christian must learn to depend upon God and exercise faith in the work of God. Jesus did not say that if one tries hard enough, he can move a mountain. Instead, Jesus said that if one’s faith is the size of a mustard seed, he could move a mountain.
Jesus is the Vine, and the Christian is a mere branch. The Christian will only bear fruit when the Vine gives the branch the sap it needs. Much can be gained from recognizing the need for Christ and the Spirit.
While the Bible tells the Christian that he will bear fruit in keeping with repentance, the implications are inferred rather than directly stated. The Christian does not produce fruit in his own life. Fruit is a result of the life-giving Vine and the Spirit’s work. When someone repents and turns to God, he is thus connected to the life-giving source. As one learns to abide in this place of life, he will see that fruit will come. Fruit is the evidence of life, and so it is evidence of one’s abiding in Christ by the Spirit, Who is the way, the truth, and the life.
The flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit gives life to the Christian. This lesson must be learned as one approaches the topic of love and longsuffering. The challenges of life are too much to bear. However, even Paul said he was burdened beyond his strength amid his affliction. But do you know why? Paul says that it taught him to rely on God rather than self.
Trust in the Lord and abide in Christ.
Final prayer
Father, I pray that You would help me to learn to be longsuffering like You. You have set the example, and it is to You that I look. You are worthy of my devotion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.