A Good News Series - The Fruit of the Spirit
Longsuffering: A Fusion of Patience and Power
The popular impatiens flowers are so named from seeming to be highly
impatient! When their seed pods mature, they explode when touched, sending
seeds several yards away. See how this picture illustrates the need for
longsuffering, an important fruit of God's Spirit!
by Don Hooser
Longsuffering is no longer an everyday word, but it is a virtue needed
more than ever when impatience, intolerance, oversensitivity and impulsive
anger are so prevalent.
Anger and animosity can be the result of many negative influences. The
evil influence we all are infected with is our own selfish nature.
And our human abilities to make major improvements are pitifully weak.
We need God's help!
In Galatians 5:19-21, the apostle Paul refers to our human nature as "the
flesh" and our selfish tendencies as the "works of the flesh." These include "hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, envy, murders"!
Clearly we need the antidote for these traits, which is God's Spirit!
Paul went on to say, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis
added throughout). What an amazing contrast!
All these beautiful virtues work together and support each other. Think
about how longsuffering relates to the other attributes.
Two important words
Listed fourth among the fruit of the Spirit is a wonderful quality translated "longsuffering" in
some Bible versions and "patience" in others.
Those two English words are closely related, both associated with endurance. More
important and fascinating is learning about the two corresponding Greek
words in the New Testament.
One Greek word—humpomonee—is translated "patience" in
almost all Bible versions and implies patient endurance.
The other Greek word is even more interesting. It is makrothumia, translated "patience" in
some Bible versions but more accurately as "longsuffering" in
others.
The Greek word makro (which gives us the English prefix macro)
means "large" or "long." The root word thumos means "temper." Therefore makrothumia literally
means long-tempered, the opposite of short-tempered or having
a short fuse.
Without makrothumia, we human beings tend to be temperamental—having
an irritable temperament and bad temper. We tend to "lose patience" and "lose
our cool" and even "blow up" (like an impatiens plant).
We'll focus primarily on makrothumia since it is the word used
in Galatians 5:22. However, please keep in mind how these two words overlap
in meaning and are both important to our spiritual understanding and growth.
Longsuffering and love vs. anger and hate
Longsuffering is virtually the opposite of anger, especially of "outbursts
of wrath" (2 Corinthians 12:20).
When a traffic light turns green, some drivers will impatiently honk their
horns if the car ahead doesn't start moving within two seconds! No
longsuffering there! Even worse is the epidemic of road rage with cursing
and actual violence.
Many people tend to overreact. They quickly get on the defensive,
interpret remarks as attacks and then strike back. Many people carry a
lot of inner anger from their past. Every small hurt or annoyance adds
to the storehouse of anger. The slightest provocation brings the anger
to the surface and into the open.
Anger usually involves a spiteful attitude of retaliation and revenge.
But God forbids this: "Bless those who persecute you . . . Repay no one
evil for evil . . . do not avenge yourselves" (Romans 12:14, 17, 19). The
Bible teaches mercy and forgiveness.
People tend to excuse their anger, but most human anger is self-centered
and sinful. "The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James
1:20).
Hardly anyone will admit to hating people. But the Bible defines love
and hatred largely by people's actions. Love is expressed through helping people,
while hate is demonstrated through harming people (see
Romans 13:10).
Paul described the behavior of love: "Love suffers long and is
kind . . . [It] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked,
thinks no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The New International Version renders
his words this way: "Love is patient, love is kind . . . It is
not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs."
Our thoughts and attitudes are likewise important, as they are the source
of our actions and words: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke
6:45).
Therefore we should honestly examine our attitudes. Each of us should
ask: Am I motivated by love, respect, patience and compassion, or am I
motivated by resentment, contempt, intolerance and hardness of heart?
Slow to anger, quick to forgive
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and
great in mercy" (Psalm 145:8). That's the way He expects us to be!
Consider carefully these wise words about being "long-tempered": "He who
is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts
folly" (Proverbs 14:29). "A wrathful man stirs up strife, but
he who is slow to anger allays contention" (Proverbs 15:18). "The
discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is
to overlook a transgression" (Proverbs 19:11).
James wrote, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19). Then if and
when appropriate anger is expressed, it will likely be under control.
You have probably heard the good advice of "stop and count to 10" and "take
some deep breaths" rather than lashing out with words you'll regret—words
that will escalate conflict rather than make peace.
Truly the first step of longsuffering is to exercise restraint and do
nothing. We must think first! What does God want me
to say or do?
If your feelings are hurt and you feel the need to immediately say something,
speak softly and don't say anything to hurt back. "A soft answer turns
away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).
Then take as much time as you need to pray and plan regarding the wise
and constructive way to approach the other person. Your goal is to act
lovingly rather than reacting hatefully.
When a person is too concerned about winning an argument, he can end up
losing a friend. Don't be too concerned about who is right or
demanding your rights. Learn to be agreeable even when
you disagree. Pray for God's help with this.
Solution to impatience, short tempers
Even without God's help, people can learn to be calm and patient much
of the time because they see the advantages.
But these good intentions and good habits are not nearly as powerful as
God's supernatural gift of longsuffering. Good interpersonal relationships
depend on you doing your best plus trusting God with the rest.
We human beings are pitifully incomplete without God's Spirit.
How does one obtain the Holy Spirit? The apostle Peter briefly
explained in Acts 2:38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit."
To truly be "sons of God" we must be "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans
8:14).
In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul describes the nature of someone who is led
by God's Spirit: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put
on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing
with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (He
states something very similar in Ephesians 4:1-3.)
Notice how these qualities tie together and give us an expanded view of
longsuffering. We need to patiently "bear with one another" rather than
allow ourselves to get irritated!
Longsuffering and eternal life
Waiting for others is a test of our patience and an opportunity
to build patience. And the Bible has much to say about our need
to wait on God. We want God to solve all our problems right now, but
God knows the best timing. He often tests our patience and perseverance
before answering our prayers.
When the Bible mentions waiting, patience, perseverance or longsuffering,
it is often in connection with trusting in God to intervene for us in our
need, as He assuredly will: "But those who wait on the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
This patient waiting is ultimately focused on the second coming of Jesus
Christ: "To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second
time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
Only those who remain faithful to death or to Christ's coming will be
rewarded in His Kingdom. After warning about end-time persecution of Christians,
Jesus said, "But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew
10:22).
"Endures" means continuing to be led by God's Spirit and continuing to
bear the fruit of His Spirit to the end of your life or the second coming
of Christ, whichever comes first.
As James 5:7-8 exhorts us: "Therefore be patient [literally, longsuffering],
brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the
precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives
the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is at hand." GN
Related Resources
Transforming
Your Life: The Process of Conversion
We will examine the Bible's teaching on conversion. Contrary to what many think,
it is not just a one-time event. Instead the Scriptures reveal that it is a
process.The process begins with God's calling, followed by the key steps of
repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit—finally climaxing
with the return of Jesus Christ, when the dead in Christ are resurrected to
immortality and given eternal life. That is the ultimate transformation, being
changed from a mortal to an immortal being!
Christ's
Command to Us: Bear Good Fruit and Much Fruit
Jesus Christ taught important spiritual lessons regarding the "fruit" of
our lives. What are those lessons, and how well are we applying them?
Our eternal life depends on this understanding!
God's
Spirit: The Power to Transform Your Life
Jesus Christ is cultivating supernatural "fruit" in the lives of His
disciples. To understand that miraculous effect, we must first understand
the awesome cause and ultimate source—the Spirit of God.
Love:
The Ground From Which Spiritual Fruit Springs
When God's Spirit is at work in a person, amazing things happen. The
person's whole life blossoms and bears beautiful fruit. And the most
wonderful fruit of all is the giving and receiving of true love.
Joy:
Foundation for a Positive Life
Jesus said to His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that
My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
That sounds almost too good to be true! How can we experience this fullness
of joy?
Peace:
The Hunger of Human Hearts
The apostle Paul, locked in a depressing prison cell, wrote, "I have
learned in whatever state I am, to be content." He reminded his readers
that they also could have "God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding." You
too can have this unique contentment and peace!
Longsuffering:
A Fusion of Patience and Power
The popular impatiens flowers are so named from seeming to be highly
impatient! When their seed pods mature, they explode when touched, sending
seeds several yards away. See how this picture illustrates the need
for longsuffering, an important fruit of God's Spirit!
Kindness:
From the Heart to the Helping Hand
God's nature is that of incredible loving-kindness toward all people.
And He will kindly help His followers cultivate the much-needed fruit
of godly kindness.
Goodness:
God's Character and Man's Potential
The spiritual fruit of goodness enables sinful human beings
to do good and to be good—good in the truest sense of the word.
Goodness, after all, is the essence of the nature of God.
Faith
and Faithfulness: Fundamental to Relationships and Responsibilities
Do you trust God completely? So much so that you live accordingly—to the
point that He is able to trust you? When Jesus Christ returns, wouldn't it be
wonderful to hear Him say approvingly, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?
Meekness
and Gentleness: Strength With a Tender Touch
The biblical qualities of meekness and gentleness are misunderstood and undervalued
in today's society of extremes—where all too often people tend to angrily
overreact or passively underreact.
Self-Control:
Governing Your Life by the Power of God
In this series of articles on the fruit of the Spirit, we have come to the last
of the nine virtues—self-control. Of all the things we have to govern
in this life, self is often our greatest challenge!
A
Crucial Factor in Producing Fruit: Eradicate the Weeds of Sin
Victory requires understanding the enemy. In our spiritual warfare, the enemy
is us! Raw human nature is like a field taken over by noxious weeds. We must
eradicate the weeds and replace them with God's Spirit so we can produce much
good fruit!
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