Long suffering is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. The Greek word—humpomonee—is translated “patience” in almost all Bible versions and implies patient endurance. The other Greek word is even more interesting. It is makrothumia, translated “patience” in some Bible versions but more accurately as “long suffering” in others. Greek word makro (which gives us the English prefix macro) means “large” or “long.” The root word thumos means “temper.” Therefore makrothumia literally means long-tempered, the opposite of short-tempered or having a short fuse. Without makrothumia, we human beings tend to be temperamental—having an irritable temperament and bad temper. We tend to “lose patience” and “lose our cool” and even “blow up” (like an impatiens plant).
Long suffering is more than just suffering wrongs unjustly; it is suffering without letting anyone know that you are suffering. It is when you bear the wrongs done to you quietly, when you pray with sincerity for those who have done wrong towards you. Long suffering is also the willingness to endure hardness for the sake of someone else.
When we complain about our circumstances, we are not being “long suffering” we are instead being “long complaining”. This is especially true for all those who claim to be saved born again, Christians. If we say we are saved, yet we complain about all that is wrong in our live the world etc. then what we are doing is saying we serve an awfully weak God by our attitude saying that God is not God.
Long suffering is virtually the opposite of anger, especially of “outbursts of wrath” (2 Corinthians 12:20). Many people tend to overreact. They quickly get on the defensive, interpret remarks as attacks and then strike back. Many people carry a lot of inner anger from their past. Every small hurt or annoyance adds to the storehouse of anger. The slightest provocation brings the anger to the surface and into the open.
Anger usually involves a spiteful attitude of retaliation and revenge. But God forbids this: “Bless those who persecute you . . . Repay no one evil for evil . . . do not avenge yourselves” (Romans 12:14, 17, 19). The Bible teaches mercy and forgiveness. People tend to excuse their anger, but most human anger is self-centered and sinful. “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Hardly anyone will admit to hating people. But the Bible defines love and hatred largely by people’s actions. Love is expressed through helping people, while hate is demonstrated through harming people (see Romans 13:10).
Paul described the behavior of love: “Love suffers long and is kind . . . [It] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The New International Version renders his words this way: “Love is patient, love is kind . . . It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Our thoughts and attitudes are likewise important, as they are the source of our actions and words: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Therefore we should honestly examine our attitudes. Each of us should ask: Am I motivated by love, respect, patience and compassion, or am I motivated by resentment, contempt, intolerance and hardness of heart? “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy” (Psalm 145:8). That’s the way He expects us to be!
Consider carefully these wise words about being “long-tempered”: “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29). “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” (Proverbs 15:18). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Proverbs 19:11).
James wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). When appropriate anger is expressed, it will likely be under control. If your feelings are hurt and you feel the need to immediately say something, speak softly and don’t say anything to hurt back. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Anger and animosity can be the result of many negative influences. The evil influence we all are infected with is our own selfish nature. In Galatians 5:19-21, the apostle Paul refers to our human nature as “the flesh” and our selfish tendencies as the “works of the flesh.” These include “hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders”!
The first step of long suffering is to exercise restraint and do nothing. We must think first! What does God want me to say or do? Take as much time as you need to pray and plan regarding the wise and constructive way to approach the other person. Your goal is to act lovingly rather than reacting hatefully. When a person is too concerned about winning an argument, he can end up losing a friend. Don’t be too concerned about who is right or demanding your rights. Learn to be agreeable even when you disagree. Pray for God’s help with this.
Ways to walk out Long Suffering in our walk as a Christian:
1. Bearing all that comes your way, knowing that God is able to work That God can and will meet all of your needs in his time.
2. Continue to believe that God is who he says he is, even when all those around you are prospering and you are not.
3. Knowing that God will in His time relieve this world of all that is wicked.
4. It is not something that comes about easily and does not happen overnight.
5. A pattern of joyful living, living a life that honors God and does not belittle God by complaining about temporary circumstances we face in this life. It is remembering that one day all the problems that trouble us today will be forgotten in a distant past.
6. It is a virtue needed more than ever when impatience, intolerance, oversensitivity and impulsive anger are so prevalent.
Bible mentions waiting, patience, perseverance or long suffering, it is often in connection with trusting in God to intervene for us in our need, as He assuredly will: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul describes the nature of someone who is led by God’s Spirit: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; 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.” (He states something very similar in Ephesians 4:1-3.)
Even without God’s help, people can learn to be calm and patient much of the time because they see the advantages. But these good intentions and good habits are not nearly as powerful as God’s supernatural gift of long suffering. Good interpersonal relationships depend on you doing your best plus trusting God with the rest. We human beings are pitifully incomplete without God’s Spirit.