Presently we continue our discussion on the Fruit of the Spirit and we would be dealing with patience which is also known as long suffering, gentleness and goodness.
Patience (Longsuffering)
According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word is makrothumia: From the same as… longanimity, that is forbearance or fortitude: – longsuffering, patience.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises -Hebrews 6:12.
Recently, a sister reminded me of a series I had taught several years ago titled, ‘Faith and Patience: the Winning Combination’. It was a teaching that blessed her tremendously and has, by the grace of God, continued to impact her life several years after. Faith and patience are two sides of the same coin. They are indispensable for victorious Christian living.
Patience is a fading virtue in the church today. What we have in some circles are aberrations such as “Jehovah sharp, sharp! Jehovah ATM!” Such patterns are contrary to the character of God and they betray mental and spiritual laziness on the part of followers of such ideas at best and demonic influence upon the propagators at the worst. Lack of patience could be a manifestation of spiritual slothfulness (see Heb 6:12).
Some people think longsuffering means submitting to ‘suffering for a long time’. That is far from the truth. A person may be suffering for a long time and still be an impatient person. However, his impatience might just be a major contributor to his continued suffering.
I discovered this note in Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words: “Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punishes; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy…, Ex 34:6 (Sept.); Rom 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20.
Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope, (1 Thessalonians 1:3).”
Patience and longsuffering are akin to the word magnanimity which Webster defines as: “Greatness of mind; that elevation or dignity of soul, which encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, and makes him delight in acts of benevolence, which makes him disdain injustice and meanness, and prompts him to sacrifice personal ease, interest and safety for the accomplishment of useful and noble objects.”
It is difficult to defeat a patient person, for he has the courageous endurance that does not quit, he is confident that it is either he wins or he wins, even if it takes forever!
Gentleness (Kindness)
The Greek word here is chrestotes: usefulness, that is, moral excellence (in character or demeanour): – gentleness, good (-ness), kindness.
Gentleness is one of the qualities, which the Spirit-filled believer expresses towards other people. Gentleness is that disposition of heart that motivates us to treat others with kindness and tenderness.
And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you -Ephesians 4:32.
In kindness and tenderness is forgiveness. Martin Luther King (Jnr), on a recorded sermon on which he spoke on Matthew 10:16 stated that when Jesus said that we should “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”, He meant that we should be “tough-minded and tender-hearted”.
Nevertheless, you have hard-hearted people, and some strong-headed, while others are lily-livered or weak-minded, they stand for nothing and fall for everything. To have a tough mind and a tender heart are not incongruous but complementary.
A kind person need not fear that he would be taken for granted because having both a tender heart and a tough mind, he would not be swayed in a direction that is inconsistent with the directions of the Holy Spirit in dealing with those he is being kind towards.
To be gentle is to have power, and yet have the presence of mind to control it, and not use it against others.
Our capacity and encouragement to be kind are rooted in the kindness of the Lord toward us.
But after that, the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour -Titus 3:4-6, KJV.
Unfeigned benevolence is at the height of moral excellence. One cannot be said to be truly kind if he were to be unforgiving, even if he gave all that he had to charity or to his church.
Goodness
Finally, is Goodness: ‘Agathosune’ is the Greek word here, it is virtue or beneficence, and it takes its root from the word agathos which simply means good.
Agathos is that which is inherently good by nature and consequently manifests that good-natured-ness in thought, speech, deed and character. It is the uprightness of heart.
God is good, and it is from Him that all true goodness emanates. It is the nature and character of God that ultimately defines what is truly good. It is also the measure or yardstick to determine what is not good. That is to say, that whatever is not good in the eyes of God is indeed not good.
True beneficence, which is active goodness, takes its cue from the goodness God Himself has shown to us. “We love because He first loved us.”
Similarly, we are to be good to others because He is good to us (see Eph 5:2; 1 Jn 4:10-11). We are not to be good to people only because they are good to us, but because God is good to us. Besides, goodness, like grace, is love in action.
Friends, the fruit of the Spirit is indeed love in action.
Thank you. Do not forget to keep living, loving and learning.
NB: This blog has been culled from the book Criminals behind the Pulpit: Exposing False Ministry and Unveiling True Ministry in the Church, which may be purchased on Amazon.com.