Elder Ko Swee Chay

LONGSUFFERING CHRISTIAN

Introduction

Most of us have experienced some sort of "longsuffering" of different degrees in our life. All of us have come across difficult and unreasonable people: at home, at the work place and even in the church. They include: naughty and disobedient children; quarrelsome siblings; demanding, unfriendly, malicious and even wicked bosses, colleagues and customers; irritating, self-centred and unreasonable people in churches. We must exercise this fruit of the Spirit called longsuffering in order to live a victorious Christian life pleasing and acceptable to God.

What is "Longsuffering"?

The meaning of longsuffering includes meanings like patience, forbearance, tolerance and self-restraint. A person who is longsuffering will patiently bear provocation and endure lasting hardship and offense without complaining. He will not retaliate or promptly punish. It is the opposite of impatience, anger, complaining, being fed up and despondency. The two English words longsuffering and patience are closely related, both are associated with endurance.

The two corresponding Greek words in the New Testament are:

Humpomone – translated as "patience", its basic meaning is that of endurance. It speaks of patience in regard to difficult circumstances (Hebrews 12:1), the quality which enables a person to persevere under trial (Romans 12:12). It is associated with hope; it is not used to describe God. A good example of this kind of patience is demonstrated by Job, who endured the afflictions sent upon him (James 5:11) by Satan with God’s permission.

Makrothumia – translated as "patience" in some bible versions, but more accurately as "longsuffering" in the KJV. It is the quality of longsuffering endurance. It describes a person who is fully able to avenge himself, but chooses not to do so. It is also rendered "longsuffering" as a quality of God (Exodus 34:6, Number 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Romans 2:4 & 9:22, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9 & 15) and as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word makro (which give us the English prefix marco) means "large" or "long". The Greek root word thumos means "temper". Therefore makrothumia literally means "long-tempered", the opposite of "short-tempered" or having a "short fuse". A person lacking this quality tends to be temperamental, irritable and bad-tempered; tends to "lose patience" and even "blow out" easily. Longsuffering concerns persons or is used in the context of dealing with people, and is associated with mercy.

The LORD is Longsuffering toward us

God’s Word mentions many times that the LORD is a longsuffering God. It gives us the understanding that a key attribute of God is His longsuffering toward His people.

In the OT times, God was longsuffering in the days of Noah for 120 years while the ark was being built by Noah, waiting for the people to repent from their wickedness and sins and turn back to the LORD. Sadly only eight souls entered the ark and were saved from destruction by water. 1 Peter 3:20: "…. when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." After the flood, the covenantal God of Israel was longsuffering in dealing with His chosen people, the people of Israel whom He called a stiffnecked and rebellion people. In spite of the covenant, clear instructions and warning of dire consequences given by God, the Israelites repeatedly disobeyed God, indulged in idolatry worship, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25) during the days of the judges. They sinned against God, God sent judgement upon them, they cried out to God and repented, God forgave and delivered them, they sinned against God again, and the cycle goes on and on throughout the generations. Through all this, God sent many faithful and courageous prophets to rebuke them of their sins and to warn them of the dire consequences if they continued in their sins.

God continues to be longsuffering toward us sinners today. He gives us time to repent and turn back to Him as He is not willing to see any soul perishes but all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men slacken; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." His longsuffering is manifested through mercy, grace, forgiveness, goodness, compassion and truth. But bear in mind that there will come a time when He will come again to judge the world. The time to repent, believe in Him and serve Him is therefore now. God's longsuffering has a limit.

Biblical Teaching Relating to Longsuffering

As the elect of God, we are to put on kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering (Colossians 3:12) in dealing with people around us including those who are difficult, nasty, unkind and quarrelsome. We all know this is difficult to do especially for those who have to put up with unreasonable and difficult colleagues, children or spouses daily, but Christ has promised that "my grace is sufficient for thee". (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Forbearing and forgiving one another in love – Paul said in Ephesians 4:1-2 "I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vacation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love". Again Paul said in Colossians 3:13 "Forbearing one another and forgiving one another". Longsuffering encompasses forbearing and forgiving one another in love. Regardless of how other treats us, we are to have this big heart, a kind, gracious and forgiving heart to treat others with patience, self-control, tolerance and willingness to forgive, without getting back at the person even if it is within our right or power to do so.

Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16) – For the word of God to dwell in us, we must first study and understand God’s Word, and then hide them into our hearts.Once we have God’s Word dwelling richly in us, we will be given this godly wisdom, peace and calmness to deal with whatever difficulties in life in obedience to God’s Word, which will help us and give us the ability and strength to deal with difficult people and situations. We will not be drowned in sadness and self-pity. We will not say and do things that we regret later, and that will give a bad testimony of our faith and cause shame to the name of Christ.

Practical steps for exercising Longsuffering

· Study God’s Word diligently - Without the Word of God we cannot show forth the fruit of the Spirit rightly. Psalms 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

· Have a forgiving heart - Where other people have fallen short of our expectations, offended us or done wrong to us, we are to graciously forgive them. Colossians 3:13 "Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye".

· Love them regardless of their character and behaviour - Mark 12:29-31 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, HEAR, O ISRAEL; THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD: 30 AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. There is none other commandment greater than these."

· Pray for them - Matthew 5:43-45 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR, AND HATE THINE ENEMY. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

· God is Sovereign - Nothing can happen to us without God's knowledge and permission. We are His children. He allows trials to come our way to help us grow spiritually. James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Conclusion

Longsuffering is an attribute of our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Longsuffering is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit. All believers must exercise this fruit of the Spirit as evidence that we are born again. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit indwelling in us will lead and guide us in exercising longsuffering in all circumstances.

May God help us to be an exemplary Longsuffering Christian. AMEN