All the fruit of the Spirit is helpful for us to overcome issues of selfish ambition. But peace and patience are front and center for obvious reasons.
Patience
·
Definition:
o
Here’s the working or practical definition: accepting
a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.
o
In the NT there are two words dealing with “patience.” The one in Gal. 5:22 is translated longsuffering
in the NKJV and refers to patience with people.
It does not hastily retaliate a wrong.
The other, used in James 1:3-4; 5:11 (and 28 other times), has to do
with circumstances, not succumbing under suffering. It is significant that the former word is
used of God. For example, He is
longsuffering with mankind, not wanting any to perish (2 Pt. 3:9,15). The latter term (patience in trials) is not
used of God (except in Rom. 15:5, as a title).
o Thus,
the fruit of the Spirit is critical for our relationships. The context indicates that. There are several works of the flesh
in the “quarreling” category. In Gal. 5:13-15
the issue is serving one another through love and loving your neighbor as
yourself, versus biting and devouring one another. Gal. 5:26, after the fruit of the Spirit
passage, says let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying
one another. Thus, we can say, as
expected, that the issue of the Judaizers in the Galatian Churches is one of
selfish ambition, provoked by envy, and resulting in divisiveness.
·
The underlying principle: patience with people
rests in our God who is sovereign and faithful in all things. We trust Him to work in our relationships,
even and especially in those that are difficult. The Psalmist would often pray “how long;” but
by the end of his prayer he would be comforted and encouraged to be patient. Our real issue is not so much patience with
people around us; it is patience with God, waiting on Him. Did you see that with Hannah in today’s
reading?
·
The Bible is filled with examples of this
patience. Everyone is a good or bad
example of patience; it is always an issue.
Here are a few.
o
Rom. 2:4: God Himself sets the example.
o
1 Tim. 1:16: Paul’s testimony highlighted Christ’s
longsuffering. Before the Damascus Road
experience, Paul persecuted those the Father gave to the Son. Then Paul illustrated longsuffering
throughout his ministry (2 Tim. 3:10).
o
Heb. 6:12 calls us to imitate those who with
patience inherited the promises. He is
speaking of the people spoken of in Heb. 11.
o James
5 gives us the farmer (5:7) and the prophets (5:10) as illustrations (Job,
5:11, illustrated patience in suffering).
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