1 Corinthians 13:4a
~4 min read
“…To suffer long is to patiently endure…”
Charity suffereth long (1 Corinthians 13:4a)
Today, love is the most written and spoken topic of all times, in poetry, books, television and movies. But what is love according to the Bible?
The word charity (agape) is love in English. It is love in its highest and purest sense. To suffer long is to patiently endure. It is to be patient with people; for example, someone who is being taken advantage of by another person and yet not retaliate. The supreme example of patience is God Himself. It is because God suffereth long or is patient that prevents this world from being destroyed and allows time for men to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). What about us?
- We need patience to love: We have been commanded by God to love our neighbours as ourselves. But what if those people have opposed, discouraged, disappointed and persecuted us? We still have to love them, so we need patience!
- We need patience to share the gospel: We have been commanded to share the gospel to the lost. But what if those people keep rejecting the message of the gospel? We still have to keep sharing the gospel, so we need patience!
- We need patience to serve in the church: We have been commanded to serve the Lord. But what if those people criticise and say all kinds of things about our services? We still have to keep serving, so we need patience!
- We need patience to forgive: We have been commanded to forgive those who have sinned against us. But what if those people keep repeating those things that they have done to us? We still have to forgive, so we need patience!
Dear children, it is not possible for us to exercise such patience except through love - a love for God and our neighbours. It is not possible based on our own strength, but only through the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we live our lives according to the Spirit’s leading, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit, and one of which is love. It is a supernatural love, and only the Spirit can help us. Thus, we need to pray, “God, I know it is difficult to love especially in difficult situations, and facing difficult people. I need to be patient. Help, strengthen and grant me the patience to love!” God will surely give you this love which is longsuffering!
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