Fruitful Living
The fruit of patience
“But the fruit of the Spirit is Patience.”- Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
Contrasted to the acts of the sinful nature is a single-minded lifestyle called “the fruit of the Spirit”. This is produced in God’s children as we allow the Spirit to so direct and influence our lives that they destroy sin’s power, especially the acts of the sinful nature, and walk in fellowship with God.
Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a virtue that is essential for healthy living. Its vital role in every human relationship has made it a subject of intense scrutiny by all kinds of professionals. Yet, in spite of all the extra attention, PATIENCE remains a very scarce commodity in our fast-paced world.
From a little child vying for attention, a tired parent lashing out at a child, angry drivers hurling insults at other road users, jostling and shunting in queues, driving above speed limits, and many other commonplace instances, we see evidence of the scarcity of patience in every human activity.
Society also seems to be going along well with the reality of this scarcity. Continuous research churns out faster products for everything from pencil sharpeners to computers, aircraft, ships, and rockets. Leaping from merely faster upgrades, many manufacturers now boast of instant versions of their products, as proud tribute to those who do not have patience, and whose lack they want to gratify.
God knew that we would get to this point in our human history, and gave the warning ahead of this time, that “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”– Matthew 7:19.So, what is the good fruit that He wants us to bear? It is the fruit of the Spirit, and PATIENCE is one of the core components of that fruit.
1. The Benefits of Patience
Patience described as the inner toughness that surmounts many odds, is generally regarded a family member of wisdom, peace, joy, kindness, love, and many other good traits. Many cultures acclaim patience as a trait that has the ability to figuratively cook stone to tenderness, and as a trait that can overcome any obstacle, clean up any defect, and thrive through any opposition, trial or affliction.
Patience is not that obvious in ideal situations. As a result, it is easy to miss its presence where people are punctual, keep their words and promises, are alert to personal character defects and promptly work hard to correct them, respect deadlines, honour commitments, and seek for the good of others. Many will take it for granted that such situations happen by chance, yet it is the existence of PATIENCE that fosters such an environment.
When God said we must bear the fruit of patience, He did not intend it for His benefit, but for our own individual and collective good.
Medical evidence gives us a list of many diseases that can develop as a result of not having sufficient patience. Some of these diseases can be fatal, and the leading one is cardiovascular disease. Hypertension and stroke are among the common diseases that can result from prolonged impatience expressed in thoughts, words, or actions. Anger, unforgiveness, slander, envy, jealousy, discontent—these are all some of the common outworkings of those without patience.
2. The Need for Patience
In his insightful book Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions, Dr. Samuel Koranteng Pipim, a Christian writer has captured the Christian’s need for patience in this way:
“Some Christians think they can suddenly obtain patience by “casting out the demons of impatience”! Others betray their impatience when they convince themselves and their “name-it and claim-it” followers that they can command God—‘in the name of Jesus’—to give them instant patience.
The truth, however, is that the only reason people even ask God for patience is that they are not honest enough to admit that they are frustrated with His “delay” in granting them an overnight success, instant wealth and health, quick solutions to their problems, a rapid recovery from their illnesses, and instant marriages or relationships.
Prayer for patience is almost an ultimatum—either God gives us right away what we want or we quit serving Him.
But God’s Word teaches that we cannot command God—or even the devil—for patience. Neither does the virtue of patience come overnight. Rather, it is developed over a period of time through a rather painful means” (Dr.Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions, pp. 37-38).
3. The Bible on Patience
What does the Bible say about patience and how do we obtain it?
According to the Scriptures, there are two kinds of patience: (i) patience as long suffering; and (ii) patience as endurance. The first deals with how we are to relate to inconveniences brought about by others or situations; the second concerns our attitude toward trials and afflictions. The first (longsuffering) is a passive Christian virtue that deals with persons. The second (endurance) is an active Christian virtue in respect of things.
English Bibles often use the same word for both types of patience. However, the original language of the New Testament, Greek, uses two different terms to emphasise the distinction between the two. The first word ismakrothumia. It means “slow to anger” or “to be long before one gets angry.” It is the word used by Paul when he says “Love is patient” (RSV; NIV), or as the King James Version of the English Bible puts it, “Charity suffereth long” – 1 Corinthians 13:4. It is the same word used when Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to “be patient toward all men” – 1 Thess. 5:14 (KJV).
The second word often translated patience is hupomene.It is sometimes rendered in our English Bibles as “endurance,” “fortitude” or “steadfastness.” This kind of patience has to do with how a Christian must deal with trials and afflictions. It depicts an object that is put under intense pressure, and being under that kind of pressure, remains intact, and does not break up. The Apostle Paul uses this word in 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 when he says, “But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience [hupomene], in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings” – 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 (KJV).
As Christians we are expected to possess both the passive and active kinds of patience—patience as longsuffering and patience as endurance. We must bear long with others and we must calmly endure trials and afflictions. Thus, the two terms are often used in the same passages of Scripture.
For example, in Colossians 1:11, the Apostle Paul urges us to walk according to “all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” – (KJV). Again, in his second letter to Timothy, he urged young Timothy to cultivate both kinds of patience by following his “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience – 2 Timothy 3:10 (KJV).
4. Developing Patience
The need for more patient people in our world will continue to increase even as its absence becomes more critical.
Strange as it may seem, patience is developed in the crucible of affliction, when a person willingly and totally surrenders to God’s will—whatever that will may be. The book cited earlier, Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions, offers the following summary of what the Bible teachers about how to obtain patience:
The discipline of trials is God’s appointed means to obtain the stamina of patience – Romans 5:3, 4; James 1:2, 3. The Lord thus sends trials in our lives to build up our endurance—to make us stronger Christians.
One can think of patience as diamond, and trials as the process by which diamond is made. The reason diamond is the hardest rock is because it has been subjected to very intense heat and pressure for a very long period of time. After the ordeal, that ordinary rock becomes something very valuable and precious. Likewise, the Lord puts us under the pressure of trials in order that we might become spiritual diamonds. The more we are tested, the stronger we become, the more beautiful we will be, and the more useful we can be for God’s service. – James 1:4.
While trials produce patience; yet we need patience in trials. We cannot claim to have patience unless we have trials in our life, for trials test our patience. – 2 Corinthians 6:4, 5; 2 Thessalonians 1:4. We must therefore, not be discouraged by trials. Even though the discipline of trial is apt to make our hands hang down, and our knees grow feeble, we must gather stamina and run the spiritual race to the finish line. – Hebrews 12:12, 13.
But very few, if any, can willingly endure trials in order to obtain patience. For this to happen, we need the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit on the heart of the believing Christian. This is why patience is one of the components of the fruit of the Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, He transforms us from within and enables us to bear long with others and also remain calm under afflictions and trials. We desperately need the Holy Spirit, if we are to experience this power in our lives. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart that we can bear the fruit of patience. The hymn below summarises patience for us in a profound way:
- Patience, O, ‘tis a grace divine, set from the God of peace and love,
That leans upon our Father’s arm, as through the wilds of life we rove.
- By patience, we serenely bear, the troubles of our mortal state,
And wait, contented, our discharge, nor think our glory comes too late.
- O, for this grace to aid us on, and arm with fortitude the breast,
Till, life’s tumultuous voyage o’er, we reach the shores of endless rest.
- Faith into vision shall resign, hope shall in full fruition die,
And patience in possession end, in the bright worlds of bliss on high.
To Ponder: Joseph Addison, the 17th Century English poet reminds us that “Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.” It’s good advice worth taking because the former circumstance we’ll have in abundance. It is, therefore, wise that we are armed with the right skills to be able to thrive under any adverse circumstance.
Stay blessed!
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By: Dr Joyce,the author
Fruitful Living
Qur’an: A Book of Guidance beyond Ramadan
Introduction
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad is His final messenger.
May peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his noble companions, and all those who follow his righteous path until the Day of Judgment.
The Qur’an is a divine revelation from Allah and serves as a timeless guide for humanity. It is not just a book for recitation but a comprehensive manual that provides wisdom, moral values, and laws that shape human life in all aspects.
The Qur’an answers fundamental existential questions: Who created us? Why are we here? How should we live our lives? What happens after death?
Allah affirms in the Qur’an:
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” (Qur’an 2:2).
Many Muslims increase their engagement with the Qur’an during the month of Ramadan, a month in which the Qur’an was revealed. However, the Qur’an’s message extends far beyond Ramadan; it should be the guiding light in our daily lives, influencing our thoughts, actions, and decisions.
The Meaning and Names of the Qur’an
The word Qur’an comes from the Arabic root “Qara’a”, which means “to read” or “to recite”. The Qur’an is called this because it is meant to be continuously recited, reflected upon, and acted upon. It is not just a book for passive reading but for active learning, understanding, and implementation in all facets of life.
The Qur’an is known by several names in the Islamic tradition, each revealing an essential characteristic of the book:
• Al-Qur’an: Meaning “The Recitation”, emphasizing that it is a book to be recited regularly, in prayer and outside of it.
• Al-Furqan: Meaning “The Criterion”, which distinguishes between truth and falsehood. It provides moral clarity and guidance on what is right and wrong.
• Adh-Dhikr: Meaning “The Reminder”, because it constantly reminds human beings of their purpose in life and their accountability before Allah.
• An-Nur: Meaning “The Light”, as it illuminates the path of righteousness and removes the darkness of ignorance.
• Al-Kitab: Meaning “The Book”, signifying that it is a complete and preserved scripture meant for all time.
• Ash-Shifa: Meaning “The Healing”, as it provides spiritual, psychological, and even physical healing to those who turn to it with sincerity.
These names indicate that the Qur’an is more than just a collection of verses; it is a divine guide, a moral compass, a source of healing, and a light that dispels darkness.
The Revelation of the Qur’an: A Divine Message for Humanity
The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years through Angel Jibreel. The revelation took place in two distinct phases:
• The Makkan Phase (13 years): The chapters revealed in this period focused on faith in Allah, monotheism, the resurrection, and moral values. Since the early Muslim community was small and persecuted, these revelations gave them spiritual strength and perseverance.
• The Madinan Phase (10 years): The revelations during this period were more detailed and addressed laws, governance, social justice, and community life. The Muslim community had grown in Madinah, and legal rulings on marriage, inheritance, and commerce were introduced to regulate societal affairs.
* The writer is the Metropolitan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso
To be continued…
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai – 1 BN Michel Camp, Tema
Fruitful Living
Bearing the fruit of love
But the fruit of the Spirit is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Imagine if all the trees in the world were fruit trees? And they all bore fruits of love? And those who see these fruits of love could eat of it, and give to everyone else until it became the staple meal for everybody? Were this to be the case, maybe the so-far elusive utopia that we think is impossible will become a reality. Maybe we would have less sickness and pain in the world. And just maybe it would be alright for this world to last forever.
What is certain though is that this kind of world we envision is attainable, if not on this earth, in heaven. And that heaven begins here, where you and I are. Jesus said: “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:21. The kingdom of God “is within” us when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – when we surrender to the lordship of Christ and do His will. When we do so, we will be able to bear the fruits of love and enjoy heaven here on earth. That is the clearest evidence we can give that we are citizens of heaven though we live on earth.
Love is both a gift and a fruit. The two come from the same source, the Triune God—the Three Co-Eternal Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These Three work together as one to ensure that we get the full benefit of love, first as a gift that we receive, then as a fruit that we are expected to bear.
As a gift, the God of love gave Himself to us in the Person of His only begotten Son -John 3:16. When our Lord Jesus Christ departed, He sent His representative— the Holy Spirit—to come and dwell in as many as receive Him and want Him to stay in them – John 16: 7, 13.
As a fruit, God the Father is the Gardener who prunes and tends the plant. God the Son is the Vine to which the branches are connected. God the Holy Spirit, the sap that connects us (the branches) to the Vine, vitalises the branches and allows us to blossom and bear fruits. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1,4.
Why Love?
Bearing the fruit of love is more than a feel-good experience. It is a divine command that is aimed at making us more like God. It involves sacrifice, tears, and often heartache. It can be hard but it is attainable.
Not loving others empties us of the essence of our humanity, and reduces our potentials to grow more into God’s likeness. It rips the thread that runs through the fabric of our common humanity and leaves holes and gaps that destroy the texture and beauty of what was once beautiful. The more afraid we are to love, the less human we become, and the more demonic we grow to be.
History reveals very clearly the impact of the absence and presence of love. On the one hand, where there’s no love we have hate and the wars and genocides that stem from it. There’s also poverty, hunger and homelessness, including the sad testimonials of neglect and abuse. The absence of love results in gossip, slander, jealousies and pettiness continue to inflict pain and alienate people from communities where they might thrive.
On the other hand, with love comes forgiveness and kindness—two vital ingredients of love that have prefaced healing, renewal and restoration. Love has revived hope and prolonged life, rebuilt bridges of friendship and transformed minds and hearts of individuals and groups.
God loves us too much to let us suffer and die without achieving our optimum. That is why He told us to love. Strictly for our own good, by the One who made us and knows us best. It’s a command that won’t expire because He Himself is love – 1 John 4:8. It’s an instruction that won’t fade away, for as Paul observed, “three things will remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13.
To be continued…
- By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
