Long Suffering... an article I wrote in 2010

http://voices.yahoo.com/long-suffering--5517687.html?cat=7




Long Suffering




Long suffering is it a fruit of the Holy Spirit? Well according to Galatians 5:22 it is one of the fruits of the Spirit.



So for sake of argument we will say that this particular passage is talking about the Holy Spirit.
But what is "long suffering"? Is it suffering through an abusive relationship only to die from that relationship, or for the relationship to one day just end.



Well no not really, that is not exactly what is meant by this verse in my personal opinion. But in some circumstances this could be applied, if you really pushed the issue I suppose.



Long suffering is more than just suffering wrongs unjustly; it is suffering without letting anyone know that you are suffering. It is when you bear the wrongs done to you quietly, when you pray with sincerity for those who have done wrong towards you.



Long suffering is also the willingness to endure hardness for the sake of someone else. An example of this would be someone who leaves the comforts of their homes, and all they know. In order to go and live in another culture, with people who have never once heard the gospel of Christ.



Then to live in the same conditions as those you will minister to, and do it joyfully without complaining.



When we complain about our circumstances we are not being "long suffering" we are instead being "long complaining". It is very easy to complain, and many times we can even believe ourselves to be justified in our complaining but really, we are never justified in having a "complaining attitude".



This is especially true for all those who claim to be saved born again, Christians. If we say we are saved, yet we complain about all that is wrong in our live the world etc. then what we are doing is saying we serve an awfully weak God. One who is not able to minister to us, one who is not able to deliver us from the harshness of things that we encounter in this life. In other words we are by our attitude saying that God is not God.



We are forgetting that our attitude says a lot about what we believe, both positively and negatively. Like it or not all those who claim to be saved born again Christians, are judged by others more closely than those who either claim nothing at all, or who place their faith in traditions, religions and idols made by man.



When a Christian says they believe God is able to deliver and able to save, then begins to complain often of the same things that those who are unsaved complain of, it causes the Christian to lose their witness and testimony before a lost and dying world.



Long suffering is bearing all that comes your way, knowing that God is able to work every single thing out for good. That God can and will meet all of your needs in his time. Long suffering is when we continue to believe that God is who he says he is, even when all those around you are prospering and you are not.



It is knowing that God will in his time relieve this world of all that is wicked. Long suffering is not something that comes about easily and does not happen overnight. Long suffering is a pattern of joyful living, living a life that honors God and does not belittle God by complaining about temporary circumstances we face in this life. It is remembering that one day all the problems that trouble us today will be forgotten in a distant past.