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The Value of Patience

 

James stated, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

James points out the value of patience. Patience is needed if we are to endure the various hardships and setbacks of this life. Growing in our patience will cause us to become perfect and complete. The question is, “How do we grow in our patience?”

We begin by looking to the example of the apostle Paul. He endured a wide range of trials before God. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, Paul provides a summery of the sufferings he endured for the name of Christ. As you read through the list, you may naturally wonder how anyone could endure such suffering and difficulties. Paul gives us the methods by which he endured.

Paul kept his faith in God. When Paul endured the trouble in Asia, he stated that he was despaired of life (2Co 1:8). He went on to say, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” (2Co 1:9) If we are to endure the troubles of this life, we too must keep our faith in the power and love of our God.

Paul also kept his focus on the eternal things of God. He stated, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Co 4:18)

In verse 17, Paul stated that his sufferings were light affliction. Some may question his sufferings as being light affliction. However, the way Paul was able to call his sufferings light affliction was based on what he was comparing them to. He was comparing the temporal to the eternal.

We can and should do the very same thing in our own lives. In fact, Paul wrote, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Co. 3:2) While on one hand we must deal with the pressures of this life, we must not become so focused on them that we lose sight of what is most important, our eternal future.

When we approach life with eternity in mind, we can face all types of obstacles and we can overcome! This is the value of patience. Patience enables us to endure various trails, frustrations, and setbacks. Patience keeps us moving forward towards our heavenly goal. Therefore, let us not shy away from our growth in patience, but let us grow more and more that we may endure, and heaven will be our home.

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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