Longsuffering is an attribute that should be present in every Christian. Paul prayed that the Colossians, as a part of their worthy walk, would be strengthened that they might be longsuffering, and maintain their joy. It is needed for the Christian because of the inevitability of provocation as a result of the faith. Because the child of God is different and non-conforming, he will be mistreated. Longsuffering is self-restraint in the face of that provocation. It is typical to seek revenge or act with wrath and anger when mistreated. However, the longsuffering Christian does not hastily retaliate against those who are in conflict with him. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
Longsuffering is characterized by Paul in Galatians 5:22 as fruit of the Spirit of God. The Greek term used there (makrothumia) is defined by Thayer using words such as: “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.” These terms clearly indicate a characteristic attitude that should be present in every Christian. In our interactions with our fellow man, we truly should be slow to respond to provocation and sin committed against us.
God is longsuffering. He serves as an example to us. Nehemiah records that despite the rebelliousness of the Jews, “But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17). This characteristic was abundantly obvious in His dealings with Israel throughout her rebellious history.
Peter wrote of God’s longsuffering nature in his second epistle. Concerning the day of judgment, Peter affirmed that its delay was precisely because He is, “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). That is what is accomplished by the presence of this attribute in God’s nature. Man is given time and opportunity to repent to the saving of their soul. Though His longsuffering is great in nature and extent, it is not unlimited. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). At some point, Jesus will come again, and every man will be held accountable for their sin. God’s judgment finally came upon Israel first, then Judah. His judgment will likewise, at some point, be visited upon the whole world.
By His divine power, God has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (cf. 2 Peter 1:3). This is done to equip us, so that we might “be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). Just as the divine nature is to be longsuffering rather than perverse, God equips us to be the same. It is, in fact, a mark of our discipleship. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:8-10). The new man is created in the image of God Himself. He is longsuffering, so we must be as well. In verse 13 of that text, Paul wrote of the new man, “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
So, how do we go about developing and maintaining the trait of longsuffering to which God calls us?
First, give ourselves fully to our Lord. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3). The Christian life is a new life, we are new creatures. “Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The responses of the old man (the man we were) should no longer hold sway in our lives. If we develop the fruit of the Spirit, we will no longer “fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:17).
Second, increase our love for others. “Love suffers long and is kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4). The second greatest of the commandments, “love your neighbor as yourself” (cf. Matthew 19:19), will compel you to be longsuffering toward others.
Finally, recognize the wisdom of treating others in this way. “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” (Proverbs 15:18). Equanimity in your response to provocation is always the wiser choice. It positively impacts your relationships, both with God and man. Remember, “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly…” (Proverbs 14:17).
We rejoice in God’s longsuffering toward man. Just as it delayed the flood in the days of Noah, it gives the opportunity of salvation today to those who will repent (cf. 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:3-13). “And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15).
As we rejoice in God’s longsuffering towards us, we must remember His command that we have His mind. We must likewise be longsuffering in our interactions with all men.
