"It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Some in the world rejoice at wrongdoing because they want to see evil triumph. No true Christian desires this. But how would you react if you knew that your pastor or some other prominent church member was wrongly accused of something? Would you rejoice at your newfound opportunity for personal advancement? If so, you do not love him as you should and are worthless. You should rejoice that the truth is known, regardless of the effect it has on your personal aspirations.
Neither should you wait with eager anticipation for that truthful accusation of someone else that will propel you forward. Real problems need to be addressed and dealt with, but we shouldn’t ever want to see someone fall. We should love others so much that we are willing to suffer wrong, enduring it, hoping and believing that the people who wrong us are growing and will realize their error. All the while we are patient and kind, loving them in every way possible.
My mother is a wonderful example of this to me. When she was helping someone who was making some selfish and self-destructive choices, I encouraged her to cut the person off. I will never forget my mother’s response. She said “I just thought that (s)he would make the right choice this time.” At the time, I thought “How foolish. That person is never going to make the right choice.” Now I think, “How loving. My mother saw bore and endured many things from that person, hoping and believing that (s)he would come to walk in the truth.”
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful."
These verses have broad, sweeping implications for the lives of all believers. However, remembering that the larger context of this chapter is the subject of spiritual gifts helps us apply these verses in a few specific ways.
We are all equal in God’s sight, but we are not equal in each other’s sight. Though there are no more important spiritual gifts, some people are more clearly gifted or perhaps gifted in more ways than others.
We should love those who seem to be more gifted than we are. You may look at a clearly gifted individual and wish that you had his gifts. You may treat him rudely because you wish you had the gifts that he has. You are resentful, and you are failing to love. You should rejoice and give thanks that God has so gifted your brother.
We should also love those who seem to be less gifted than we are. You may be quite happy with the gifts God has given you, but you may think of other believers as inferior because of what they don’t have. Perhaps you are short tempered when dealing with people who can’t do what you do or can’t do it as quickly. Perhaps you aren’t willing to consider other people’s opinions because you think that your way is always better or that they couldn’t possibly come up with a good idea. Perhaps you are irritable because you always have to deal with what you view as other people’s incompetence. You are have an over-inflated view of yourself, and you are failing to love.
These verses have broad, sweeping implications for the lives of all believers. However, remembering that the larger context of this chapter is the subject of spiritual gifts helps us apply these verses in a few specific ways.
We are all equal in God’s sight, but we are not equal in each other’s sight. Though there are no more important spiritual gifts, some people are more clearly gifted or perhaps gifted in more ways than others.
We should love those who seem to be more gifted than we are. You may look at a clearly gifted individual and wish that you had his gifts. You may treat him rudely because you wish you had the gifts that he has. You are resentful, and you are failing to love. You should rejoice and give thanks that God has so gifted your brother.
We should also love those who seem to be less gifted than we are. You may be quite happy with the gifts God has given you, but you may think of other believers as inferior because of what they don’t have. Perhaps you are short tempered when dealing with people who can’t do what you do or can’t do it as quickly. Perhaps you aren’t willing to consider other people’s opinions because you think that your way is always better or that they couldn’t possibly come up with a good idea. Perhaps you are irritable because you always have to deal with what you view as other people’s incompetence. You are have an over-inflated view of yourself, and you are failing to love.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
James 5:10-11
"As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."
The suffering of God's people at the hands of each other is no new thing. To encourage patience when we suffer because of the actions of other believers, we are pointed to the prophets. The prophets were doing God's work, and they suffered for it. At the time it must have been quite unpleasant. And I doubt that an outside observer would have had the foresight to rightly assess that the one suffering was blessed by God. Yet with foresight, "we consider those blessed who remained steadfast." Those who had patience in suffering were blessed.
Then of course there is the classic example of suffering, Job. Classic, I guess, because few can make a solid case that their situation is worse off than Job's situation. Yet in that horrible state God accomplished a purpose. And the inspired evaluation of the Lord's intention reveal His compassion and mercy. The compassion and mercy of God seen in suffering. I'd rather see it some other way, but that's desire only reveals my immaturity and lack of trust in the wisdom of God. In any case, when I do encounter suffering, especially at the hands of other believers, I should remember God's character and how He has worked in the past, knowing that He could be doing the same in my life.
The suffering of God's people at the hands of each other is no new thing. To encourage patience when we suffer because of the actions of other believers, we are pointed to the prophets. The prophets were doing God's work, and they suffered for it. At the time it must have been quite unpleasant. And I doubt that an outside observer would have had the foresight to rightly assess that the one suffering was blessed by God. Yet with foresight, "we consider those blessed who remained steadfast." Those who had patience in suffering were blessed.
Then of course there is the classic example of suffering, Job. Classic, I guess, because few can make a solid case that their situation is worse off than Job's situation. Yet in that horrible state God accomplished a purpose. And the inspired evaluation of the Lord's intention reveal His compassion and mercy. The compassion and mercy of God seen in suffering. I'd rather see it some other way, but that's desire only reveals my immaturity and lack of trust in the wisdom of God. In any case, when I do encounter suffering, especially at the hands of other believers, I should remember God's character and how He has worked in the past, knowing that He could be doing the same in my life.
James 5:9
"Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door."
After being told to be patient, we are further instructed not to grumble against each other. The context indicates that the patience is to be especially geared toward people. But the object of the patience is narrower than that. We are directed not to "grumble against one another, brothers." Those whom we are directed to show patience with here are other Christians. You would think that other Christians wouldn't need to be shown patience. You would think that they would act in such a way that we would be without tension. However, too often this is not the case. It should be, but it's not. This is hard to bear. We can accept non-Christians wronging us. But Christians! Yes, Christians. And what should our response be? Patience.
What will happen if we fail to show this patience? We will be judged. I'm not sure what that entails, but it doesn't seem to be very positive. In fact there is a sense of urgency an imminent danger. We better avoid grumbling because the judge is standing at the door. This seems unfair. Why should I be judged? I'm the one who has been wronged. That was true originally. But if you grumble against someone, you now assume the position of the one wronging. And someone else's bad actions don't excuse your own. God won't hold you accountable for someone else's actions, He will hold you accountable for yours.
After being told to be patient, we are further instructed not to grumble against each other. The context indicates that the patience is to be especially geared toward people. But the object of the patience is narrower than that. We are directed not to "grumble against one another, brothers." Those whom we are directed to show patience with here are other Christians. You would think that other Christians wouldn't need to be shown patience. You would think that they would act in such a way that we would be without tension. However, too often this is not the case. It should be, but it's not. This is hard to bear. We can accept non-Christians wronging us. But Christians! Yes, Christians. And what should our response be? Patience.
What will happen if we fail to show this patience? We will be judged. I'm not sure what that entails, but it doesn't seem to be very positive. In fact there is a sense of urgency an imminent danger. We better avoid grumbling because the judge is standing at the door. This seems unfair. Why should I be judged? I'm the one who has been wronged. That was true originally. But if you grumble against someone, you now assume the position of the one wronging. And someone else's bad actions don't excuse your own. God won't hold you accountable for someone else's actions, He will hold you accountable for yours.
James 5:7-8
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. "
Patience, we recognize that it's a virtue worth the having, but when asked to display it, we fail to recognize the opportunity and choose instead to murmur and complain. When I'm suffering my natural response is to want it to stop right now. I want the illness or discomfort eradicated, and I want to return to ease. But I am urged here unto patience, and it is to continue not for a week, a month, a year, or a decade but "until the coming of the Lord." I certainly don't want my affliction to last that long, but that is how long I am urged to hold out.
The passage directs me to observe the farmer who waits patiently for the anticipated harvest. I must be like him in my patience. But what does it mean here to establish my heart? I keep in my thoughts the coming of the Lord, and I set my heart firmly upon that foundation, knowing that the suffering is temporary.
Patience, we recognize that it's a virtue worth the having, but when asked to display it, we fail to recognize the opportunity and choose instead to murmur and complain. When I'm suffering my natural response is to want it to stop right now. I want the illness or discomfort eradicated, and I want to return to ease. But I am urged here unto patience, and it is to continue not for a week, a month, a year, or a decade but "until the coming of the Lord." I certainly don't want my affliction to last that long, but that is how long I am urged to hold out.
The passage directs me to observe the farmer who waits patiently for the anticipated harvest. I must be like him in my patience. But what does it mean here to establish my heart? I keep in my thoughts the coming of the Lord, and I set my heart firmly upon that foundation, knowing that the suffering is temporary.
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