THE CHRISTIAN VIRTE OF PATIENCE

THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUE OF PATIENCE

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

-James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

The Greek word patience translated in the New Testament is a compound word. It is a preposition meaning “endure” and a verb meaning “to abide”. Patience means to abide, endure and hold steady whatever the condition.

There are two aspects in the word patience in the context of Scripture. Patience may be passive- that is steadfastness without agitation or reactive action or avoidance. Patience may be active-  a bearing of the load. Both aspects according to St. James are profitable in the Christian life.

The Apostle James affirms patience as helpful in perfecting the Christian life. One does not stand in his own strength in occasions which call for patience, for God empowers him to be steadfast. The Bible does not convey the message that the followers and disciples of Christ would have easy, comfortable, trouble free, prosperous lives, all the way. The journey of the Christian is not smooth all the way. There are bumps, curves, valleys, plains, hills, rocks, deserts, and wilderness..

There is a popular theology today known as the  health and wealth gospel. The problem with this gospel is that it contradicts the true gospel, and goes against the historical experience of God’s people through the generations.

James addressed his epistle to the Jews who were scattered abroad. There was the dispersal of the Jews  throughout the world. This was a national tragedy for them. They experienced diverse trials. James exhorted them saying, “Count it all joy when you are surrounded by trials of every sort.” This is a strange statement. How can there be joy in trials?

The apostle James seems to imply that the key is to look at the trials from an intellectual not an emotional perspective. If one should view the various trials he undergoes from God’s perspective and recognize them, as producing something very valuable in his life, notwithstanding the unpleasant experience, the benefits derived is joy. There is not joy in the trial itself, but the benefits derived are joyful. Job describes it this way: But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

The Apostle James uses the phrase “the testing of your faith” which calls for the proving of our faith. Faith can grow and be refined by being tested.

Patience grows out of trials. Faith develops and become steadfast in trials. As muscles develop strength by being used and made to endure heavy lifting, patience develops and grows from the exercise of faith. We are encouraged to apply the grace of patience in our lives. We need to seek God’s Hand in our trials and trust Him, even if we do not understand what is happening and pray He will reveal what He is teaching us in these trying times. St. James says, “Let patience have its perfect work.”

CHILD LIKE FAITH

CHILD LIKE FAITH

Luke 18:15-17 (NKJV)

“ 15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Some parents brought their children to Jesus. The disciples who seemed to form a cordon sanitaire around the Lord, reprimanded the parents for bothering the Master.

Women and children did not count much in the culture of that day.

What is interesting is that these parents wanted Jesus to touch their young children and bless them. They wanted the Lord to impart blessings upon these little ones just as the Lord had touched and healed the sick. When the disciples saw this they were indignant. They thought the children were so much of a bother to the Lord and might create some annoyance. The disciples scolded them.

But whom the disciples rebuked, Jesus invited. The Lord said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children.”

Here we are given a vital lesson about the nature and character of childlikeness. Children are innocent, open, trusting, receptive, teachable, and humble. These are qualities which teach us simple faith.

Coming to Jesus like a child is required of us. We need to shed off every pride, pretension, conceit, arrogance, doubt, and unbelief. Forget that you are (you can fill in blank if you are a scientist, doctor, senator, movie star… ) “Somebody” and enter God’s kingdom like a little child.

The Spirituality OF Waiting

The Spirituality OF Waiting

In his insightful book, The Path of Waiting, Henry Nouen sharply observed that for God’s people waiting is not a passive unproductive act but active. Thousands of years ago the Prophet Isaiah declared that “they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

I admire people who have learned to master the discipline of waiting.

Waiting in line strains our patience. One privilege of being a senior citizen is the priority lane, which at least eases the discomfort. Important people like government leaders, public officials, wealthy influential figures, celebrities, famous stars, even religious leaders, should not be kept waiting. They expect to be whisked off fast and easy, by-passing the ordinary herd of humanity whose fate is to endure waiting to take their turn.

I have a friend, a lawyer, whose profitable business has endeared him to the officials of the bank which he employs in his transactions. When he enters his bank, he goes straight to the manager’s office with so much ease and facility, a privilege denied to many. He is served coffee or lemonade while the personnel hurry off to facilitate his business for him. He should not be delayed a minute longer. What a privilege. But does it always work out that way?

Dr. Harold Sala, has aptly observed that, “Today we are programming our lives, compressing hours into minutes and expecting instant results and immediate success. We strive to leverage God asking Him to help bolster our output.”

No, it does not always work that way.

No matter how privileged or powerful one is, no one can claim he is absolutely in control.

The bank goes off-line; the plane is delayed; the deal is called off; the storm and typhoon rages; the appointment is postponed; the remittance money was stolen; the application is denied; the bid for election is lost; and one can’t do anything about it, except to wait for another opportunity.

God is teaching us to trust, wait patiently and to hope. The path of waiting is the path of true character.

“…it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
-Lamentations 3:26

LIVING WISELY

LIVING WISELY

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life. Put away perversity from your mouths; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil.
-Proverbs 4:20-27 New International Version

In these wisdom sayings, we are instructed to live wisely by giving careful attention to God’s Word and God’s Wisdom. We can do this by listening very well, as in bending our ears, to God’s teachings, keeping them in mind and not forgetting them. God’s Word are the key to life to those who find them.

This also implies careful study of God’s Word. If we apply God’s teachings, we reap the amazing benefits of life and health to our bodies. God’s teaching and instruction will guide us to live in the right way and refrain from, conduct , which may cause unhealthy stress, strain, or illness in body and mind. Jesus said, “The words I speak to you are spirit and life.”

We are also reminded to guard our hearts. The heart refers to the mind and affection. We should guard our hearts for they are the well spring of life. We need to be careful what goes into our hearts (minds) for out “out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts ( Mark 7:21-23). Our thoughts run our lives.
Then we are instructed to deal with our mouths. We should put away deceitful talks, perversity of speech and lies. We should be careful what comes out of our mouths and lips. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

For the use of our eyes, this wisdom saying teaches us to fix our eyes straight ahead with singleness of purpose, looking steadily at what is good. We need to be careful with what our eyes behold, especially in the world today where all sorts of worldly attraction compete for our attention. We focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporal and what is unseen is eternal.

Then finally we need to deal with our feet. Our means of locomotion, which bring us to where we go. We have to know the direction where we are going, and to walk in established ways or level paths, not the unsecured or unstable way, lest we stumble or fall. We should be steadfast and determined to follow the right direction where God leads us, and should not be misled to the wrong turn.
This is living wisely.