3 Bible Tips: The Fruit of Longsuffering-Patience and Power
For this fourth fruit of the Spirit, Paul chose a Greek word whose meaning is closely related to patience, but is more accurately translated "longsuffering." A literal translation would be "long-tempered," the opposite of short-tempered. We humans tend to get irritable, lose patience and overreact, so we need the fruit of longsuffering!
1. Learning to be slow to anger is part of being longsuffering.
"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, emphasis added throughout).
2. The "love chapter" shows that longsuffering is an important part of love.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, New International Version).
3. God teaches mercy and forgiveness, and forbids retaliation and revenge.
"Repay no one evil for evil… If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord" (Romans 12:17-19).
To learn much more about the spiritual fruit of longsuffering, see Longsuffering: A Fusion of Peace and Power.