I was reading a book called, “The Economics of Neighborly Love” by Tom Nelson while I was patiently waiting for my doctor. When the doctor came in, he noticed the book title and said, “Boy do I have a story about bad neighbors!”
“Long story short,” he said, “I bought an undeveloped lot on a cul-de-sac with neighbors on both sides. As soon as the contractor started building my dream home, the neighbors complained to the city about the contractor, trying to stop the work. When that didn’t work, they called immigration services trying to deport the contractor’s workers. They even called the police to report the worker’s cars and trucks parked in the street.”
When the house was finally finished, the doctor moved in with his family. Sadly, the abuse from both neighbors continued. One neighbor, an immigrant himself, physically threatened the doctor’s wife saying she should move back to her country (even though she was born here).
The abuse from the neighbors has gone on for the entire ten years that he and his family have lived there. All this time, he and his family try to be good neighbors while enduring ongoing abuse.
Paul Defines Patience
Paul, writing to the Galatians, said Christians are known by their fruit; the way we live our lives. One important attribute of a faithful Christian life, he said, is patience (Galatians 5:22).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a HCSB).
Sadly, the word translated as patience in our modern Bibles doesn’t really give the full meaning of the Greek word Paul used. The word Paul used is better translated as, “longsuffering.”
In fact, if you have an older Bible, it probably has the word longsuffering instead of the word patience.
Longsuffering means “having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.”
So, the patience I exhibited while waiting for the doctor to come, while it was important, wasn’t what Paul was talking about.
The patience Paul was talking about is like the longsuffering my doctor is exhibiting as he lives between two abusive, nasty neighbors.
Patience versus Longsuffering in the Workplace
Patience in the workplace is important because it contributes to a productive, enjoyable working environment.
Patience in the workplace is
- waiting for the microwave at lunchtime,
- waiting your turn for the copy machine, or
- waiting to speak to someone until they have finished their meeting with someone else.
Patience is good, but God called us to be longsuffering. Longsuffering in the workplace is showing patience with
- coworkers who regularly disrupt meetings,
- coworkers who challenge your direction and talk badly about you behind your back, or
- bosses who disrespect coworkers or employees.
For Christians, it is important to be longsuffering in the workplace because it is how God called us to live.
Longsuffering Christians
Just about every verse in the New Testament where the word “patience” appears it is the same Greek word, better translated as “longsuffering.”
For example, writing to the Colossians, Paul said, “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 HCSB).
Then, writing to the Thessalonians, Paul said, “And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB)
And writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, “Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2 HCSB).
In each of these three cases and in nine others in the New Testament, Paul exhorts Christians to be more than patient; we are to be longsuffering!
Why Should We Be Longsuffering?
I feel there are three reasons why we should be longsuffering.
First, we are commanded by God to be not just patient, but to also be longsuffering (Colossians 3:12-13).
Second, as Christians, we recognize we are only redeemed sinners with the same faults and foibles as the world around us. We must present ourselves to the world with humility, not with pride.
Third, we know God is potentially working in the hearts of others, and we are called to be an example that draws them to God (Matthew 5:16).
Certainly, I would hate to think that my impatience, or my inability to be longsuffering, would cause someone to reject God!
I don’t know about you, but this kind of patience is hard for me. I need the power of the Holy Spirit to be the kind of patient, longsuffering Christian God has asked me to be.
I pray 2 Thessalonians 3:5, “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can be the kind of patient, longsuffering Christian God called me to be. For that matter, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that any of the fruit of the Spirit are revealed in my life!
My Super-Secret Plan Series
The “Patience” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan” is the fifth in a series examining how Christians can integrate our faith in the workplace.
No one can stop us from integrating our faith in the workplace by exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
You can read the kick-off article in the series here, the article on Love here, the article on Joy here and the article on Peace here. Next up in July we’ll look at integrating kindness as a fruit of the Spirit into the workplace.
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. How have you integrated patience/longsuffering as a fruit of the Spirit into your workplace?
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Category: Skills |Empowerment
