Patience

Will be doing the topic " The Benefits of Patience" during cell group tomorrow evening. Patience is something I really lack. =P I get impatient easily when things don't go my way or when dealing with people I dislike a lot. I will usually start grumbling, scolding or blaming others when I get impatient and lost my temper. After behaving like that, I will feel that I'm insane. I always remind my self that I must remember to be patient but I always failed to do so. I feel that I'm not showing a good example of a Christian towards others. I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles to be patient.

Everyone wants things to be perfectly done in the shortest time. We don't like waiting as waiting from the world's point of view is a waste of time and it decreases productivity. Therefore, people who are slower in learning or doing things will get scolded or eliminated from the society. Because of our impatience, road accidents occur frequently, relationships broken, our health deteriorates, we have 1st, 2nd world war(the list goes on), our moral standard is downgraded and we backslide in our faith.

However, from the God's point of view, being patient and waiting for the right time to act is actually the best way of solving problems without causing any arguments or bloodshed. Proverbs 14:29 says that "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."By being patient, we are able to see the whole situation and analyse it with a better understanding. We won't act like a fool if we have patience. Isn't God's teaching amazing?

Being patient is not easy at all because others will surely take advantage on us. But that doesn't mean we don't have to learn to be patient. I really thank God for being so patient with me all the while. If not, I could be sentenced to death. If God, who is so pure and holy, can be patient with me, I don't think I have any reasons not to learn to be patient with others. It;s not going to get easy but I pray that The Lord will remind me about the benefits of patient through the book of Proverbs.

"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel." Proverbs 15:18

"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man controls his temper than one who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 16:11

"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." Proverbs 25:15