Longsuffering: Fruit of the Spirit Part 5
“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 None of us like to suffer, particularly when the suffering is of a long duration. Perhaps that is why the word longsuffering has so little appeal to us. Yet longsuffering is a crucial characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit.
The word most commonly translated longsuffering in the New Testament, which also appears in Galatians 5:22, means longsuffering, forbearance or fortitude, and is also sometimes translated as patience. It has the idea of bearing with others graciously for however long is needful, losing neither patience nor temper.
Longsuffering is the very patience of God shown to others through the conduit of His people.
There are many examples in Scripture of longsuffering, but just like the other characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering is an attribute best displayed by God Himself.
Our Longsuffering God
In Exodus 34, Moses stood on Mount Sinai, waiting. If you are familiar with the account, you know that God had promised Moses that he would see a part of God’s glory as He passed by. Moses followed God’s instructions, and God showed up, just as He had promised. Notice what God says here about Himself:
“And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:5-7)
Notice the interplay between His justice and His longsuffering. He does not clear the guilty, but neither does He pour out His wrath upon them prematurely.
This longsuffering towards unforgiven sinners is seen in 2 Peter 3:9, which says,
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The context of this verse is a passage dealing with the certainty of Christ’s return, and His mercy in waiting for the proper moment.
Just as He did with Israel all those years before the Babylonian captivity, God is displaying His longsuffering towards the sinful human race by giving each individual time to respond to His call to repent and believe.
God’s longsuffering is not to be taken for granted, however. God is longsuffering, but not unjustly so. Just as God brought judgement upon Israel at the proper time, there will be a time of judgement for each unbeliever. Note these verses from the book of Romans:
“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:3-4)
The longsuffering of God is a glorious thing, for which we ought to find ourselves ever more grateful each day, and yet we often get annoyed at God’s longsuffering towards others who we feel deserve His swift and full judgement.
If God suffered long with you and me, how dare we begrudge any other sinner of the longsuffering God bestows upon them!
Examples of Longsuffering
Throughout Scripture, we see those whom God highlights displaying longsuffering towards others.
Think of Joseph serving well in prison, though he had done nothing wrong. Think of Moses pleading with God for the people over and over again, though it was Moses at whom the people’s anger and mistrust was directed. Or David, refusing to harm Saul, though Saul clearly intended to kill David.
The New Testament also has examples of longsuffering, the best example of all being the Lord Jesus:
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)
This perfect example is given, not to discourage us, but rather to encourage us. Hebrews 12 says,
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (vv.1-4)
Whatever seasons of longsuffering God calls us to walk through, we can look to Christ’s example and be encouraged that He has already victoriously walked a far more difficult path of longsuffering, and that He is the one who offers us His power to walk our own path in victory.
There are other examples given us in the New Testament as well, such as Stephen, who remained calm and steadfast even as he was led outside the city and stoned to death.
And then there’s Paul, who faced almost constant persecution, yet was able to say to Timothy, who had traveled with him,
“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Timothy 3:10-11)
Those who had known Paul personally had seen him respond toward others with longsuffering. They knew his patience and forbearance, because they had witnessed it themselves. A challenging thought for you and me is, do those closest to us know our longsuffering firsthand?
James 5:10-11 points us to more examples of longsuffering:
“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
Imagine the longsuffering of prophets like Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so many others who faithfully preached God’s Word to a rebellious people. Part of their role as prophets was to show forth the longsuffering of God, as well as the reality of His coming judgement.
Hebrews also points us to human examples of longsuffering:
“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (6:11-15)
The longsuffering of those gone before encourages us not to be lazy in our Christian walk, but rather to go on diligently heeding the promptings of the Spirit, knowing that God will be just as faithful to us as He was to them.
Our Longsuffering
There are many commands in the New Testament for believers to live out Holy-Spirit empowered longsuffering:
Forgiveness
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:12-13)
Longsuffering means being willing not just to forbear, but also to forgive. There is no room in a Spirit-filled heart for bitterness or unforgiveness. Christ forgave you all and calls you to do likewise.
The Christians of the early church and those down through the centuries who have faced persecution have typically been quick to forgive their persecutors, even in the midst of being tortured to death.
Yet we who live in peaceful lands, free from threat of violence, are typically quick to take up an offense and slow to offer forgiveness. May it not take an outbreak of persecution to teach us to forgive others as quickly, freely, and fully as Christ has forgiven us.
Earlier in the book of Colossians, Paul told the Christians at Colossae that He prayed for them,
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” (1:10-11)
Notice that when we are strengthened with His might and according to His power, the result is not only patience and joy, but also longsuffering. Just like every other characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering takes the power of God enabling us to obey.
Fellowship
Our Spirit-empowered longsuffering is also crucial to the health of the local church:
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
When Christians fail to demonstrate longsuffering towards one another, it destroys the unity of the Spirit.
The church is made up of redeemed sinners, but this side of heaven, we are redeemed souls with a very real sin nature. That is why longsuffering and its companions, forbearance and forgiveness, are so crucial to its health.
The saved, however, are not the only ones to whom the Christian is called to show longsuffering:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
The word patient in the verse above is the same Greek word translated longsuffering in Galatians 5:22. Longsuffering is to be shown to all.
I often find myself making excuses for why I “can’t” be longsuffering towards those I find most irritating or exasperating, but it is God who has called me to longsuffering, and with the Holy Spirit to empower my obedience, there is no excuse.
Doctrine
Longsuffering is also important because it puts our doctrine on display:
“Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Notice how this verse links longsuffering with doctrine. Every Christian has the responsibility to share the gospel with the lost and to help their fellow believers grow in their understanding of the Bible. This doctrine, or Biblical teaching, must be accompanied by longsuffering in order to be effective.
Longsuffering is not just for witnessing and discipleship, however. Look at what we are to be patient for (the same word as longsuffering) in the following verse:
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7
Waiting can be hard, but it is a key part of our lives on this earth as we live in anticipation of the return of Christ.
The illustration given us in this verse is that of a farmer planting a seed and waiting for it with “long patience.” Just as the farmer cannot do anything to hasten the harvest day, so we cannot make Christ’s return come any faster.
Through the Holy Spirit, we can pour into others the truth of Scripture with genuine compassion and committed love. We can bear with others graciously, with a heart quick to forgive and look over offenses. We can lavish upon others the longsuffering which God has so generously lavished on us. And we can wait with trusting patience for God’s timing.
“As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30a)