Minute Meditations

Someone once asked William Pitt what quality was most needed to fit a man to be Prime Minister of England. Mr. Pitt replied: ”Patience.” He was then asked what quality stood second. He answered: ”Patience.” He was pressed to tell what quality was required next. His reply was the same: ”Patience.” That quality is not only needed to fit a man to be Prime Minister but also to fit us for a place in the kingdom of God. The writer to the Hebrews declares, ”For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Patience is a much needed virtue but one that is sadly lacking in today’s modern world. The fast pace and easy life of our times does not help us in cultivating patience. Paul tells us that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience. Peter asks us to add temperance to patience that we might not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Children are born completely lacking patience and wise parents try to teach their little ones that they can not have everything they want exactly when they want it. As God’s children, we need to remember that we also can not have what we want exactly when we want it.

It has been said that God always answers the prayers of the righteous but sometimes he says, ”No.” Our impatience may sometimes cause us to doubt but we should be wise and remember that ”it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” James admonishes us, saying, ”Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Every farmer has learned to patiently wait for his seed to spring up and, if he began to grow impatient because there were no visible signs of growth after planting, he would be in such a frenzied condition by harvest time that he would not be able to reap his crop. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming and we have good reasons to believe it will be soon. In the meantime, we are to patiently continue in well doing. We should daily read our Bibles realizing that ”whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Scriptures teach us patience for we can as James suggested ”take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affiictions and of patience.”

In this age of digests, condensation and quick reviews, we need to get back to our Bibles, to rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. If we do, we shall, as Paul declares, ”have our hearts directed into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ,” for to them ”who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality,” to these Jesus at His coming will give eternal life and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever.