Lesson 6

Patience, People, Patience!

2 Peter 1:6

We tend to define "patience" as having diplomacy to deal with delays without being dominated by depravity. Or perhaps, to most of us, patience is the ability to tolerate annoying people without losing your cool.

I suppose those fall under the category of patience. And most of us struggle in those areas. I find it difficult to deal with delay. I think things and people should be on time. I hate being late. I don't ever want to known as "the late Darrell W. Sparks!" And I admit that I am not the most tolerant when it comes to annoying people. But that's how we tend to define "patience."

But that's not a complete definition or understanding of the word "patience" (particularly the word used in II Peter 1:6, our text for this message). This verse tells us that in the recipe for a fruitful life, we must include a measure of patience. Specially, the Scriptures say, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (II Peter 1:5-7).

But this word, that is, the Greek word translated here "patience", is not really about dealing with delay or tolerating annoying people. There is more than one word in the Greek language for patience, and the other one means "longsuffering, forbearance, tolerance" (as in Colossians 1:11 where both words are used, thus making a distinction from each other). This word has to do "endurance, perseverance and persistence" (according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). The word is about constancy and continuance, which is how Strong's Concordance defines this word. It is steadfastness and firmness. It is staying power, not with resignation but with joy and hope. While temperance has primarily to do with pleasures of life, patience has to do with pressures and problems of life.

In fact, James uses this word (5:11) to describe Job. He refers to the patience of Job. Job's patience was not that of dealing with delay or tolerating life's little annoyances. No, Job's life was absolutely devastated by tragedy and loss (his wealth, his children, his health). Job was patient in that in spite of all his loss, he held firmly and steadfastly to his faith in God.

The Call To Patience

That, beloved, is what Peter is talking about when he says, "and to your temperance (add) patience." He is telling us to stand firmly in our faith in God, to remain steadfast for God. Don't quit. Don't give up. Don't give in. Keep on going. The Bible commands this numerous times and in a variety of ways. I Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, ... follow after ... patience. Titus 2:2 That the aged men be ... patient. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. II Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Beloved, God's Word says that patience is to be added to your faith. Or as the writer of Hebrews says (10:36) - "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Yes, indeed, we are in need of patience.

This word, patience, can be used in the passive sense, as in waiting or enduring difficulty (Romans 8:25) but is really more of an active word. Romans 2:7 uses it to speak of "patient continuance in well doing", that is, we demonstrate our patience by our continual well-doing. Hebrews 12:1 says that we are to "run the race set before us with patience." I don't naturally think of someone who is running in a race demonstrating patience, but, again, this word is not passive but active and we must keep on running the race. It is constancy and continuance, it is steadfastness that is being called for.

The fruitful Christian does not give up or run away. He does not give in to his frustrations. He is always consistent and steady and stable.

But the truth is, an awful lot of Christians have never added patience to their faith. They lack steadfastness and consistency. They are like Reuben to whom his father said, "Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel" (Genesis 49:3-4). It does not matter how much strength or dignity or power one might have. Without stability in your Christian life, you will not excel. Peter mentions the unstable a couple of times in this epistle (2:14; 3:16). James who speaks of patience (1:3-4) also contrasts it with being double-minded (vacillating) and "unstable in all his ways" (1:8).

Without this steadiness, this steadfastness, this constancy and consistency, this patience which Peter tells us to add to our faith, your life will be like a roller coaster ride, a series of highs and lows, ups and downs, in and out of church, hot and cold for God. When I was a teenager, I remember another teen telling me, "It seems like those are so 'on fire' for God, are the same ones who 'burn out' the quickest." I remember also my one and only experience as a cross-country runner. I was in college, taking a conditioning class and running a couple of miles every day. So I had gotten myself in pretty good shape. The guys in my unit asked me to run in a 21/2 mile intramural cross country race to which I rather reluctantly agreed. There were about 30 of us altogether and the first ten were going to get points. When the whistle blew and the race began, there were some guys who started the race off as if it were a 100 yard dash. They were absolutely flying. I couldn't believe it. Are they going to go at this pace for 21/2 miles? I don't have a chance. But you know what happened? They couldn't keep up that pace for long and soon they were basically out of the race. And my steady pace enabled me to finish the race and help my team get first place. While we all appreciate those who burn hot with zeal and passion for the things of God, there is something to be said for that one who is patient and steadfast and consistent and constant. He may not be the most exciting Christian, but in the long-run (and that's what the Christian life is, a long distance race) he will likely be the most fruitful. That's what Peter means by "patience."

The Key To Patience

How does God develop this patience that we need in our lives? Well, there are two passages of Scripture that tell us where patience comes from and where it leads to. Let's look at them both. In fact, let's look at them both together and learn. Find Romans 5 (3-4) and James 1 (3-4).

The Bible says that patience comes from tribulation (trouble) and trials (testing). You see, God allows these things in our lives to teach us patience. God hurts us, but He never harms us. (So did my dad and my dentist). God hurts us but He never harms us. Rather, He helps us. Troubles and trials produce patience because through them we become more aware of our need of God and His love and care for us.

These same two passages say that patience leads to "experience" (the word means "the process of being proven") and perfection (the word means "maturity; complete, of full age").

So don't run away from troubles and trials. Just keep on going for God. Through them, God will make you a patient person (constant and consistent) and will bring you to maturity.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

II Pet 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye ... fall from your own steadfastness.

Beloved, added to your faith ... patience.