The Patience of Love

“Love is patient,” 1 Corinthians 13:4 says. Patience, I think you will all agree, is something that we struggle with in this fast-paced, drive-thru, instant-gratification age of ours.

What is patience, from God’s perspective? Well, it’s definitely not like the recent commercial for a major credit card which has as its theme song, “I want it all and I want it now.” Nor is it the mock-inspirational poster I saw recently with a dog hovering over its master: “Patience: I’m going to kill you in your sleep.” (You have to have a dark sense of humor to appreciate that one!).

Actually, there’s a very precise biblical definition of patience. The Greek word Paul chose was makothumeo, from makros (long, distant, far off) and thumos (temper, passion, or even to burn with intense anger). The word could be more literally translated: long-tempered, as opposed to short-tempered. Simply put, long before I get angry, I allow God to intervene. Stated that way, patience is much more of a choice than a feeling. With God’s help I can be patient!

Here’s another nuance of makrothumeo. In the classic Greek literature, it is used to describe a person who has the power to avenge himself—to strike back at someone who has wrong him—yet refrains from exercising that power. And by the way, where this hits closest to home is being patient with the faults and failings of others.

Who do you need to exercise patience with? Make up your mind to do it and call upon God’s strength in prayer. You’ll be surprised how he can change things in that relationship!

-BJS-