As Christians, a priority in our lives should be having a life full of love. From loving our spouse to loving our enemies, we have been commanded to love. But what is love really? How can we truly know when everybody seems to have their own ways of showing it or defining it? The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. By looking in the Word, there is clear insight to the idea of love. God is love and has given us a perfect example of what love looks like through His son Jesus! If we make up our own definitions of “Love”, we are also making up our own version of who God is. That is obviously not right. Taking a look at 1 Corinthians, the characteristics of love are actually spelled out for us! 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The Virtue of Patience

Could you define the word “Patient” if I asked you, without giving an example? In today’s world, the word “Patient” is an adjective (meaning it describes something). It is defined as “able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious”. However… that is what the world tells us today, but not what the Bible says about love and not in that time. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the word “Patient” is a verb (an action word, a call to action). The Greek word for “Patient” here is “makrothumeó” and it means both “to persevere, to be patient”. To me, this is intriguing for a couple reasons.

1. To be patient and persevere in our patience is a call to action (rather than just a description of who we should be)
2. When we define Love with 1 Corinthians, Love is both patient (verse 4) and it perseveres (verse 8). Defining Patient in this verse’s context means the exact same thing. When we are practicing patience, we are loving and practicing love. 

Are you Patient? When the lines at the grocery store are long. When you were ready to go 20 minutes ago but are still waiting on your loved ones. When you are doing the dishes but people keep bringing you more. When the light turns green but the person in front of you is on their phone. When that child screams nonstop for no apparent reason. When you want something to change about your significant other but no matter what, they just don’t change.

If love is Patient but we are not, how could we possibly love to the best of our abilities?

Love “always perseveres” and love “is Patient”. While the scenarios above might test our patience at times, it is something we can always work on and strive to persevere in. 

How to Gain Patience

1. Keep in Step with Spirit 

Before Jesus was arrested and taken to Golgotha to hang on a cross for our sins, Jesus and his disciples shared the Last Supper. Here, Jesus told his disciples he is going to send an advocate to be with us… the Holy Spirit (John 14). Just before Jesus’ ascension (after his death and resurrection) the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Shortly after that event, at the Pentecost, all believers received the Holy Spirit. To this day, we still have the Holy Spirit with us to comfort, encourage, advocate, and help!  If we walk with the Spirit and “keep in step” (Galatians 5) we learn to bear the fruit of the spirit. One of these fruits is Patience. As we keep in step and learn to live more like Jesus, we become more like him.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” Galatians 5:22. 

2. Find Joy In The Wait

While we wait patiently, it can be helpful if the waiting period seems to have a purpose. Whether you are waiting for the car in front of you to start driving or you’re waiting to hear back from the doctor. Work your wait. In all circumstances, seek out an opportunity to learn and grow in your wisdom and your relationship with God. In all circumstances, He has already saved you because His love for you is so great. He loves hearing from you, why not pray and spend that time with Him. Do something beneficial while you wait and find joy in the God that is willing to die for you. 

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” Lamentations 3:25

3. Look to the Son

We have been given an advocate through the Holy Spirit, yes. We also have a 66 book love letter (the Bible) that is an example to us. God sent us His son, Jesus, and we have records of how to love and how to be patient because of His Example. With crowds following Jesus everywhere he went and disciples that seem to never learn or understand, Jesus is clearly a professional at patience. Much like keeping in step with the Spirit, spend time in the Word learning. How can you be more like Jesus today? How can you be more patient today?

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,  not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9