Patience

I wrote this while reading proverbs which is like one of the best books in the bible ever..I know its a tad repetitive but that's one of the things I love most about the bible, it is not obvious in some teachings. In a lot of things you really have knock your head down thinking about the meaning of what you've just read. The fact that Solomon repeats things a lot in different ways is not accidental, he's only stressing the importance of a few things. I haven't finished reading proverbs but when I do I'll make a list of the wise advices I liked most and why. For now here's my little devotional on Patience.

Patience, a virtue or capacity that many people lack and few would like to have. Some people have it by default, others acquire it in time, others are too selfish to want it and many would like to have it but can't.

By definition, Patience:

1. The capacity, quality, or fact of being patient.(1)

"Synonyms: patience, long-suffering, resignation, forbearance

These nouns denote the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay: Our patience will achieve more than our force (Edmund Burke). Long-suffering is long and patient endurance, as of wrong or provocation: The general, a man not known for docility and long-suffering, flew into a rage. Resignation implies acceptance of or submission to something trying, as out of despair or necessity: I undertook the job with an air of resignation. Forbearance denotes restraint, as in retaliating, demanding what is due, or voicing disapproval: “It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other” (Patrick Henry)."(2)

The great Solomon advices us to be wise and among the many qualities of wisdom, patience is highly esteemed. Not only this but as you read on you can see that Christ was the biggest 'patient' of them all. He carried patience on his back. When you read about Solomon, in the bible it says that there is no one else like him, nor will there ever be. Thats true, but I heard someone ask is Solomon then greater than Jesus? If we take a look at Jesus' character, Jesus was wiser and of course greater than Solomon. The difference between Solomon's wisdom and Jesus' wisdom? Solomon talked about wisdom and taught how to obtain wisdom. Jesus is the living, walking and breathing incarnation of wisdom. All wisdom comes from God, and Jesus is the son of God.

Quotes on Patience,
Proverbs 14:29
"A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly."
Proverbs 15:18
"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Proverbs 16:32
"Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."
Proverbs 19:11

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

(1)(2) Definitions: taken from Dictionary.com

Blessings to All!
Rita M.