2 Thessalonians 3

Bible Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3

Patience…

…is…

…a virtue…

…many…

…lack…

…today. J

How did you feel when you had to slowly piece together the words above to make out what I was trying to say? Frustrated? Impatient? Annoyed?

Like many used to the present fast-paced society that almost always guarantees instant gratification, I often expect things to be done quickly, immediately, without delay, ASAP…

…web-pages must load quickly. Deliveries must arrive within a few days. Communications must be short and to the point. The train must not take more than three minutes to come.

Sound familiar?

I believe this is a common affliction of many and while it is good to be efficient and prompt, there are times we have to wait and endure for sometime before we see any desired results. While God is able to give us what we want or remove all our problems instantly, He does remind us that all things will happen in His time according to His will for the best outcome.

Our cultivation of spiritual virtues being part of this best outcome is the reason why patience or long-suffering is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.

Today’s chapter is a good reminder of the need for patience, particularly in three areas.

Paul first exhorts the church in Thessalonica to be patient when facing trials and persecution. Again, another good reminder that being a Christian is a bed of roses…without the roses.

However, no matter how ‘thorny’ a Christian’s life gets, we hold fast to our hope because the Lord is faithful and will establish us so that our patience will ultimately lead us to the heavenly mansions He promised to prepare for us.

Next, he encourages brethren to be patient in doing good for as I’m sure all of us have experienced one way or another, sometimes doing good does not benefit us and may even cause trouble for ourselves.

In the times we feel tired of doing good, let us remember that all the good we do, especially in the name of Jesus, will be remembered by our heavenly Father even if man neither knows nor appreciate. Let us also be encouraged to persevere in knowing that ‘God is not unjust to forget [our] work and labor of love which [we] have shown toward His name’ (Heb 6:10).

Paul finally advised the believers to be patient in dealing with wayward brethren even though they may be continually disobedient and troublesome. This might be something that requires the most amount of effort especially if we have been trying hard to help someone for a long time. Yet, as mentioned earlier, as long as we persist in doing what is right in helping our brethren, God will bring about the best possible outcome in the end.

Therefore, as we start our hurried day, let us ask God for the wisdom to see what we need to slow down for as well as the strength to endure to the end.