| The Christian Life | August 1941 |
Patience, the Evidence of Love
“And may the Lord guide your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”—II Thessalonians 3:5 (Weymouth)
AS PURE light is made up of seven cardinal colors—violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red—so pure love (Greek, agape) is made up of nine elements. If any one of the cardinal colors is missing from the spectrum of which pure light is made, we do not have pure, white light. And if any of the nine elements of which pure love is composed is missing, we do not have pure love.
Prof. Young defines agape love as the highest kind of love. He says that it is not based upon sentiment, nor feeling, nor emotion, but is a principle that finds its greatest expression in God. Jesus referred to this principle when He said, “He [God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” And then Jesus admonishes His disciples, saying, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”—Matthew 5:45,48
In 1st Corinthians, 13th chapter, verses 4-7, Paul gives us a remarkable spectrum of love, as follows:
1. Patience—Love suffereth long.
2. Kindness—Love is kind.
3. Generosity—Love envieth not.
4. Humility—Love vaunteth not itself.
5. Courtesy—Love doth not behave itself unseemly.
6. Unselfishness—Love does not seek its own.
7. Good Temper—Love is not easily provoked.
8. Guilelessness—Love thinketh no evil.
9. Sincerity—Love rejoiceth in the truth.
As an evidence of how patience shows perfect love, note the following Scriptures:
“We glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.”—Rom. 5:3,4
“Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”—I Tim. 6:11
“Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience.”—II Timothy 3:10
“Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine; that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, charity, in patience.”—Titus 2:1,2
“The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”—James 1:3,4.
“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance, and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness.”—II Peter 1:5,6
PATIENCE DEFINED
There are two Greek words in the new Testament that are translated patience. One of these words means longsuffering, forbearance; the other, constancy, or cheerful endurance. It is this latter word that is used in our text and from which we have made quotations. Longsuffering is an element of pure love, but the patience of our text is pure love in operation. Longsuffering is often confused with patience. Longsuffering is suggestive of meek, uncomplaining endurance, with humble resignation. But patience is more positive; it is a trait which indicates strength and self-discipline. It cannot be found in immature or inexperienced Christians, but only in such as have been subjected to trials, or afflictions, pain or loss. It always shines brightest when manifested under the glowing heat of severe afflictions. This trait takes a most prominent place in the galaxy of Christian virtues; for without it the heart would grow faint, the head weary, and the steps would soon falter along the narrow way in which the church is called to walk.
One might be longsuffering under adverse conditions that, were it possible, he would change. He who shows constancy and cheerful endurance, shows perfect love in operation. One might be longsuffering under conditions which cannot be changed. Not so with constancy, which shows a development of heart and character that manifests itself in an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment; with full acquiescence to divine wisdom and love, and rejoices that such is the way that God has chosen. Such an one says, “I would have chosen differently, but I am glad that God has made the choice for me. May His will be done.” Those who thus can place themselves in the hands of divine providence, truly find that all things are working together for their good.
An unbelieving heart was the cause of many of the sins to which Israel was apostate, and it worked their ruin. It is also the cause of the fall of many in spiritual Israel. It is in reality, a lack of confidence in God. This want of confidence in God caused the first sin. Eve believed Satan rather than God. He persuaded her that God was keeping the best thing from her, and so sowed distrust in her heart. Satan is ever seeking to sow distrust of God in our hearts by causing us to feel that the trials necessary for our development as Christians, are evidences of His displeasure, and that we will never be able to make our calling and election sure.
Our Lord used this word patience twice. In Luke 8:15, He says, “That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” In this parable of the sower, our Lord is showing that not only must the seed fall on good ground, but that it needs the storms and clouds, as well as the sun, in order that it may bring forth fruit. If we accept the storms and clouds with cheerfulness, they help us to bring forth fruit with patience.
Again, Luke 21:19, says: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Here our Lord is telling of the hardships that would come upon Israel at the destruction of the Jewish polity. They would be persecuted because of their faith; they would be thrown into prison; disowned by their parents; and would suffer all manner of indignities; but if they would endure bravely these persecutions and accept them with meekness and cheerfulness, they would possess their souls.
THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST
Our text mentions the love of God and the “patience of Christ.” We notice with what cheerfulness our Lord bore every trial that God permitted Him to suffer. When the scribes and Pharisees tried to entrap Him with words, or laid a snare by which they could catch Him, in all these things He showed a cheerful spirit. While the Scriptures show that He was “a man of sorrows” in that He bore our griefs, and while there is a “godly sorrow” which is important to us, it is notable that Jesus was entirely self-possessed, or should we say, God-possessed, at all times. The Jews saw no need for Christ thus to suffer and die, and esteemed this a weakness and an evidence of God’s disfavor. “Yet WE did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isa. 53:4) One of the familiar phrases on His lips was: “Be of good cheer!” This was one of the outstanding characteristics of the Master’s life. He met every trial with courage and good cheer. Well may the apostle admonish us to be guided into “the patience [cheerfulness] of Christ.” Consider the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples:
“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”—John 15:17
“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”—John 16:22
“And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled [made full] in themselves.”—John 17:13
Soon or later misfortune may overtake us and a great sorrow come in our lives. No Christian escapes trials or sorrows. Are our joys at the mercy of things that may happen to us? Have we a source of joy and pleasure that misfortune cannot take away from us? Jesus had! Consider the patience [constancy] of Christ. Note how as recorded in Matthew 5:3-12, many of the things that we would count as adversities He counted as blessings. Paul had this same idea when he wrote, “We glory in tribulations.” We, too, must possess this patience of the Anointed One, for it is one of the evidences of perfect love.
One of the outstanding features of the Master’s active ministry was the deep source of His life with God. And from this deep source flowed the virtues of patience, constancy, and cheerful endurance that were not dependent on men nor circumstances. There were circumstances in His life that seemed to be at the mercy of men and environment, but these did not disturb His trust in God. In the severest hours of trial this virtue of patience was manifested, and the Master could say—even through tears—“Not My will, but Thine, be done.”—Luke 22:42
PATIENCE AS THE FINAL TEST
No doubt there are circumstances in the life of every Christian that seem unjust; and try as we may, it is difficult to understand them. Often-times, when we have served God, seemingly with His blessing, the opportunities for service are suddenly denied us, and, apparently, we are forgotten by God. Try as we may, we can find no reason for this, and like Israel was tempted, we may be tempted with an “evil heart of unbelief,” that is, a lack of confidence in God. Can we not see that by submitting cheerfully to this condition we are showing the patience of Christ?
Paul had a similar experience at the close of his life. Shut up in a Roman dungeon he was denied all privileges of service to the friends, and fellowship with them: But did this make him despondent? Ah no! Instead he wrote a letter of comfort and hope to Timothy, and said, “I am now ready to be offered; and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.”—II Tim. 4:6-8
It was in harmony with this thought, that the apostle, in his last message to Timothy, expressed himself in these words: “Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:36) Thus it is established that patience is one of the evidences of perfect love. It is perfect and enduring love in operation.
The apostle says further, that having overcome the easily besetting sin, or lack of confidence in God, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” He said that “Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame,” and we know that He did it with cheerfulness. Further, we note the words of James (1:2-4), “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” This, dear ones, is love that has been proven.
The Christian life in some respects is like the building of a bridge. Everything that goes into a bridge is first tested for its tensile strength, and when the bridge is finished it has a final test to see if it will come up to the requirements that are expected of it. So the apostle reminds us that “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (I Cor. 3:13) The message to the Philadelphian church seems to indicate that one of the final tests is patience, for the Lord says, “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”—Rev. 3:10
In view of these truths, as they have been presented by our Lord and His apostles, let us review the past experiences of our lives which have been hard for us to bear, and see if we have been showing the patience of our Lord, as we should. We know that whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and that if we do not have chastenings, it is a sign that our Father does not love us. Why then, should we not rejoice in these experiences? How much our Lord’s words and experiences mean to us! If we are enduring our trials in an impatient, dissatisfied, and unhappy frame of mind, is this not a clear indication that we have not the patience of our Lord, who said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God”?—Psa. 40:8
Did the Lord enjoy the sufferings that He was called upon to endure? No, because it is written, “He was heard in that He feared.” (Heb. 5:7) And yet, because it was a part of His disciplining, He accepted trials with cheerfulness. To bear one or two trials uncomplainingly would not prove that we had the patience of our Lord; but if we continue in this attitude, though the trials are ever increasing, it will prove it.
How often we display a lack of faith in God. The spies that Israel sent ahead of them reported that the inhabitants of the land were so large that the Israelites were but as grasshoppers compared to them, and they doubted God’s ability to give them the land. Our God is as large as our faith, and when we learn this, then we can know for certainty that He is arranging all things for our best interests, and we can with cheerful endurance bear the things He permits to come into our lives. Seeing that we are living in the midst of perilous times, in which all things that can be shaken will be shaken, let us heed the word of the Lord, “In your cheerful endurance possess ye your souls.”
Brother Russell has written: “Let us remember the importance of patient endurance that we may not only cultivate the Christian graces and practice them, but that we many take joyfully the trials, persecutions, or difficulties which our Lord may see proper to come upon us for the development of that character which He explains is of paramount importance, and without which perfect love cannot be attained or maintained.”