By: Tom Moore
Our Lord proclaimed, “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). From this passage it is clear that patience plays an important role in the salvation of the soul. Realizing this, it is imperative that we understand what it is not, what it is, what it accomplishes, and how it is acquired.
Patience is not apathy, it is not a lack of interest or concern, and it is not emotional laziness. Too many confuse patience with apathy, but the two could not be any more opposite in meaning. Some mistake it with indifference, or not caring one way or another, or deeming something as insignificant – but none of these define it. Neither is it a bearing up under punishment for some wrongdoing. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Pet. 2:20).
Patience comes from the Greek word hupomone. This Greek word is made up of two parts, hupo meaning “under,” and mone meaning to “abide.” So literally, it means to “abide under.” Patience implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of will and simply of necessity. It is the concept of courageous endurance which overcomes evil. It includes active resistance to hostile powers. Patience is that which enables a man to continually resist the pressures of external circumstances.
Patience will strengthen the spirit, calm the temper, overpower anger, extinguish envy, defeat pride, bridle the tongue, restrain the hand, and crush temptation. We know that it is an attribute the Lord wants us to have as it is mentioned 27 times in the New Testament.
James tells us how to acquire patience, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Jam. 1:2-4).
Paul says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” (Rom. 5:1-3).
The study of the Old Testament also helps us to acquire the needed forbearance to be pleasing in the sight of God (Rom. 15:4).
Patience is a much-needed attribute for a Christian to possess. So, “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Beloved, “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” (Heb. 12:1).