One of the most neglected Bible themes in modern preaching is patience. Yet, it is often found on the pages of God’s Word. Impatience is a general trait of those who are young and immature. They want what they want right now. Everyone needs the maturity that brings about patience. Patience and maturity go hand-in-hand.

Story. Brother John Gipson wrote the following story in a church bulletin. He said that he was in a drug store and overheard a conversation between an elderly couple. The man was walking a few steps ahead of his aged wife who had to use a walker to aid her. He mumbled at her, If I had known that you were going to be this slow, I wouldn’t have brought you. She replied to him, I’m walking as fast as I can, but what difference does it make? We’re just going home, and once we get there you won’t do nothing! (Keynoter, October 3, 1996.) Brother Gipson said that he looked at the old man and thought of himself---restless, impatient and a little irritable. We need patience with one another.

There are some common misunderstandings of what is meant by patience. It does not mean that we should be slow and inactive to do God’s will. There are some things that we should and must hasten to do. There is an urgency to the call of the Gospel and doing what God has commanded. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2.) Patience does not mean just waiting, though time is almost always a factor in Biblical patience. But patience refers to the strength, endurance, and perseverance of the one waiting. Patience is the ability due to faith to bear up under the pressure of persecution, adversity, and problems. Patience is the ability to look beyond the present moment and wait for a better day. Patience does not mean that one just accepts anything and everything that comes to them in life without fighting against it. It does not mean that we should be doormats. We should be impatient about some things. Paul wrote to the Galatians that he gave not place by subjection, no not for an hour, that they truth of the Gospel might continue. (Gal. 2:5.) Jesus drove out the money exchangers and animals out of the temple of God. They had made the place of prayer a place of merchandise. He was not very patient with them. Patience does not mean that we just tolerate anything. Some things should be rejected forthwith, immediately. Patience is not a quality easily possessed. It requires understanding and spiritual growth and maturity. It is a fruit of the Spirit; that is, it comes only by having the Spirit of God within. (Gal. 5:22.) Patience is an indispensable quality in life.

God planned man’s redemption in Christ before the foundation of the world. It took time to bring lost man to an understanding of spiritual things and to Christ. God patiently worked with sinful men to accomplish his purposes.

God promised Abraham that he would bring out his descendants from the land of Egyptian bondage after four generations. "But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." (Gen. 15:16.) The patience of God is evident toward the Amorites. He did not destroy them immediately, but was longsuffering toward them waiting for repentance. He also patiently worked with the descendants of Abraham. The four generations are named for us from Jacob to Moses. They are Levi, Kohath, Amram and Moses. (Exodus 6:16-27.) Concerning Moses and Aaron, the Bible says, "These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Exodus 16:27.) God is sometimes called the "God of the fourth generation" because of his patience in fulfilling his promises to Abraham. After four hundred years, he did not forget his people. He brought them out of Egypt at the right time.

Paul wrote this concerning the patience of God: "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction." (Rom. 9:22.) Peter wrote, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9.) And, "when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1 Peter 3:20.) David said, "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86:15.)

The patience of God with Israel was evident during the times of rebellion and disobedience. With what longsuffering he waited during the days of the judges and the kings. While sinful man went about doing foolish and hurtful things, he waited for them to understand. How patient God has been with us, waiting on us to get it!

Think about being Jesus knowing what he knew and yet living in a human body. He did not come to earth full grown, but rather as a baby. He had to grow up just as any little boy or girl. He had to crawl until he learned to walk. He cut teeth just like children do today. He had chores to do around the house. He learned the carpentry trade from Joseph, his father. Jesus knew who he was and what his goal was in life. He once said to his parents, "Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?" (Luke 2:49.) Yet, he was not baptized and began his work of preaching until he was thirty! This is patience. He waited until the right time in his Father’s plan. Imagine having the work ahead of you that Jesus had in teaching disciples and naming apostles to continue after he left, yet waiting for thirty years to start that work! Then the work lasted only three years!

Someone was asked what he would do if he had only five years to live and he wanted to preach the Gospel. He said that he would go to college and prepare, then go preach. Billy Graham was asked what he would do differently if he could do it again. He replied, I would have given more time to my biblical studies.

I am deeply impressed with the patience of Jesus Christ. It is difficult to imagine how heavily the weight of his responsibilities weighed upon Jesus. Can you imagine what Jesus must have been thinking about while he and his father made wooden yokes, tables, doors, and maybe even ossuaries (caskets)? It must have been similar to the apostle Paul making tents, all the while knowing of the great work ahead that he needed to accomplish.

We need to be more patient in the work of God. We need deeper roots. We need to prepare and allow God to use us. We are too shallow; too hasty; ready to run ahead of God.

Patience is perhaps best illustrated among humans by parents. They must learn patience in raising their children. Children need time to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. (Luke 2:52.) Though the word, patience, does not occur in this passage, it certainly is present.

"Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb. 12:11.)

It has often been said that a parent never stops being a parent. Once a parent, you assume a responsibility that remains throughout life. The only thing that you can do is to learn to bear up under the weight of the responsibility with maturity and hope.

One thing that impresses me about the story of the prodigal son is the patience of the father. (Luke 15.) If children are determined to go into the far country, since children have freedom of choice, the only thing that a parent can do is to step aside and allow them to go. The father was not unconcerned about his son. But neither did he run after the young man. He did not send others out to watch for him. He did not bail him out of trouble ever time he did something wrong. He allowed the young man to face the consequences of his choices. Here is patience. The father prayed, waited and watched until the son came to himself. Until those in the far country "come to themselves" there is nothing that you can do to rescue them. The more you try to force them to conform to what you want, the more they will resist your will and do the opposite. Be patient, step aside, pray, and wait. If the father of Luke 15 is God, then this story is one about the patience of God waiting for us to decide to come back home.

Patience and suffering are often found together in Scripture. The two concepts are often combined into one familiar word, longsuffering. James wrote to some Christians who were suffering for the Cause of Christ.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4.)

The rich landowners were cheating the workers in that day. Christians were among the poorer people who were suffering at their hands. James said the rust on the gold and silver of the landowners would be a witness against them in the Judgment. James advised the Christians:

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. . . Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." (James 5:7-11.)

The advice in Scripture is always the same to those who are suffering abuse. God sees and knows what is happening. Bear up under the pressure and wrongdoing. God will judge those who abuse and cheat others. James called to mind the suffering of the prophets and Job as examples of patience under suffering.

Christians in Asia Minor described by John in Revelation were suffering at the hands of the Roman rulers. John wrote:

"He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." (Rev. 13:10.)

"And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Rev. 14:12.)

One of the reasons why many believers fall away is due to impatience. They simply become weary over time. We keep talking about a better life and salvation in heaven. They loose heart and loose hope.

"For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Heb. 10:36-39.)

"For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man sees, why does he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Rom. 8:24-25.)

"But they who wait for 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." (Isa. 40:31.)

"And we desire that everyone of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. 6:11-12.)