Over the past months we have viewed love from many angles. We have yet to spend any time on patience alone. Patience can be a tough hurdle, would some of you agree?
How do love and patience connect?
We can think of patience in a couple of ways. Patience can be a kind of love measuring stick or viewed as an attribute of love. We already know, by Galatians 5:22, that patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit. The verses before that (verses 19-21) describe what life looks like when we follow sinful desires. What we see when we compare those two groups of passages is that one group lists behaviors connected to sinful desires and the other lists behaviors connected with the fruit of the Spirit.
What I just took way too long to get to is that if patience is part of the fruit of a relationship with God then where does that leave "impatience"?
How much has impatience become part of everyday life? How often are we impatient or even ridiculously impatient (if there is such a thing) and don't really give it a second thought?
I know we are all patient people. I know none of us has a problem with being patient. I don't have that problem either! But maybe if I strain myself I might be able to list some situations for us to think about.
If we are patient, we never have a problem with someone with a full grocery cart in the 12 items or less line, a person doing the speed limit when we think the speed limit +5MPH is the bare minimum, people talking too loud in a movie, the dog that just left a token of his presence on your lawn, when your car needs an extra two days to be repaired, when you are really hungry and your order is taking a long time, when that person beats you out for that awesome parking place, when you buy something that needs assembled and you get to the last part and it is missing, when you are late and you catch all the red lights because the guy in front of you is going so slow. Obviously, this can go on for pages.
Those are everyday things. We become impatient with those we live with when we have to repeat things, when they don't pick up after themselves, when they are late for dinner and it is getting cold. I imagine your mind is racing with many more possible scenarios.
So let's stop and think of all the ways those close to you just get you riled up. I'll just hum while you are thinking. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Okay, let's stop and think of what you might possibly do that has the same effect on those who love you. I'll skip the humming this time.
So now that we have a picture of how we and others can feel that the other is impatient, I have one question.
IN THE OVERALL SCHEME OF GLOBAL WARMING, WAR, AIR POLLUTION, CANCER, DEATH, PRISON OVERPOPULATION, GAS PRICES AND SO ON...DOES ANY OF WHAT WE GET SO IMPATIENT ABOUT REALLY MATTER?? It's okay, you can laugh because it is laughable. Might we agree that most of our impatience comes from us not getting our way or from things not going the way WE want? Yikes, that sounds like what little kids do doesn't it?
I hope I haven't gotten anyone angry because that is not my intent. I want us to view it as the laughable thing it can be. If we are late for work once in a while, does it really matter? If one of our employees is late once in a while does it really matter? There are two sides to the coin. There are times that things are crucial and do matter and may warrant us getting upset about. However, I will guess that 95% of the time they don't.
Let's add the love part in. If we really love those around us, I mean "really" love them, how can our lack of patience with the dumb, inconsiderate things they might do be an expression of love?
Can we be bold and agree that when we love others, we are also patient? Can we agree that impatience is kind of a selfish practice? I don't know about you because I hear there are real angels walking among us, but if I reflect on my patience and impatience, that is what I come up with. I know my impatience is unloving, self centered and unkind. I know that when I am patient with those around me, I feel better and like myself more AND even like others more. It is so cool that when I have an opportunity to let my impatience take over and don't, the world and life do not cease to exist. How cool!
Should we be patient? I will let you decide for yourself, but think on 2 Peter 3:8,9 and 15.
"But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (vs15) And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved".
If the people 50 years ago wished and hoped the world would end, but God decided to wait 60 more so that you would find your way, isn't that some kind of love? If anyone has the right (so to say) be impatient, doesn't God? I think He might. However, He loves us and is patient beyond what we can ever imagine, waiting for us to get right with Him, because He loves us so.
So, if in comparison to God's patience with us, we feel we have the right to get all wound up if dinner isn't ready when we get home, maybe we should stop and give it another thought. We say we love others and we may feel we have the right to be impatient at times, but that surely doesn't mean we need to be. Being patient with others is part of loving others. God exhibited that over and over again.
So mix up some love today. Pour into your heart 1cup each of love, patience, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I will bet if you make up a concoction with those ingredients you will have the sweetest, smoothest, best tasting and easy to swallow mixture you have ever tasted.
Have a blessed day. Love and blessings to you all.