The fruits of the spirit are something we work toward as Christians. When you accept Christ into your life you are not a perfect person overnight. In fact we can never be perfect ourselves. Only through the grace of God can we become perfect in Christ. Now all of us our born with inherent qualities, yet none of us are born with all of the fruits of the spirit. The qualities we are lacking take time, trials, and work to obtain. I for one lack patience. "Patience is a virtue." My mother said this to me more than I can count. It is so instilled in my mind that whenever I find myself lacking, I remind myself that patience is a virtue.
In the bible I believe patience means more than waiting in line quietly or respectfully. Patience is the understanding that time will bring pleasure, however the amount of time is unknown and will not go any faster if you plead for your reward. It is the willingness to delay happiness. To be slow to anger and to give others a chance before becoming frustrated.
Luke 8:15
"But the ones that fell in the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, kept it and bear fruit with patience."
This verse is not talking about trees or bushes, but rather the hearts of Christians who understand that by grace through faith we have salvation in Christ. That we are willing to wait for our blessed hope while doing Christ's work in the time we have, serving others with humility and love.
1Thessalonians 1:3
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father."
We need to demonstrate in our lives what the Holy Spirit has done for us. How He has given us new life and an ability to help others without expecting a reward in return. Our reward is undeserved salvation. We should be more than willing to wait for a gift we could never earn nor repay.
1 Timothy 6:6-7
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
1 Timothy 6:11
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness."
In this day and age patience and contentment are bygones. Everything is for the here and now. You can buy things on credit; no wait and no money down. Get the new version while the old works just as well. We live in an age that only cares about today and it shows. People are unwilling to wait, they think only about themselves, and when they do think about others it is only for self-reward. We lack patience and contentment. Do we really need a new car? Yours might be out of style but does it get you from A to B? Will a bigger paycheck solve all your problems? Or maybe some of our needs are really wants and our problems and inflicted due to our lack of patience.
James 1:4
"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
By having patience, we are not denied anything. God is a loving and generous God. He is more than generous to those who love Him. He wants us to have everything we could possibly imagine; but some things cannot be bought. They are immaterial and in order to be obtained trials, or a lack of material items, are necessary for us to understand and obtain things such as patience and the fruits of the spirit.
There is a saying, "The longer the waiting the sweeter the reward."
I believe heaven, when we have longed for it with patience, at first glance will be more mesmerizing than we ever could have imagined.
Colossians 1:10-11
"That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
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