Love is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(1
Cor. 13:4-7)
Why is patience the very first of the characteristics of love listed by Paul? Because lack of patience is where we fail most badly. Even the greatest of the Old Testament saints slipped up through impatience. Abraham and Sarah grew tired of waiting for God’s promised child, so arranged instead for Ishmael’s birth. Jacob through deceit wrested Isaac’s blessing from his brother Esau, which he need not have done because God had already promised it to him. Moses through impatience struck the rock for water to flow, thereby forfeiting the privilege of entering the promised land. These four “heros of faith”, faithful and devoted though they were, all prematurely expropriated for themselves something which God already intended to give them in His own way and His own timing.
It may be that sin itself has its roots
in impatience. For God did not tell Adam, “NEVER eat the fruit of
the tree of knowledge of good and evil”. Perhaps He would have allowed
him to eat later, when the time was ripe. We shall never know in
this life, for Adam and Eve took matters into their own hands, with the
result that the world was filled with sin and death, disease and disaster.
Meditation:It takes both faith AND patience to inherit God’s promises (Hebrews 6:12).
Pollen
articles may be copied without permission from the author AS LONG AS (1)
the article content is not changed (2) the original copyright notice is
included. If you have been stimulated or challenged by these articles,
please consider making a financial contribution to CrossPollen."Do
not muzzle the ox who threshes the grain... If we sowed unto you spiritual
things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?"(1
Corinthians 9:9-11) Please contact us via e-mail.
Thank you!
| CrossPollen
e-mail: thornroot@juno.com |
Copyright © 1998
CrossPollen
Last Revised: April 22, 2002 |