Patience, please

It's amazing how quickly we lose patience.

Fifteen years ago, if someone didn't call you back for a few hours, that was OK.  You had to wait until they came home from work or school, checked their messages and then called you back.  Now, if someone doesn't text us back in five minutes, we're calling or texting again.

Thirty years ago, you reheated leftovers on the stove.  I might take 40 minutes to get leftovers back on the table.  Now, with microwaves, if dinner (especially leftovers) isn't ready in five minutes, we start getting antsy.

Most of us get uneasy when moving from 3G (or 4G if you're fortunate) to E coverage on our cell phones.  (We can't even load Facebook or Twitter on E, or at least not very fast.)

Yet, patience is one of the fruits of the spirit.  It's something we should strive for and practice.  All good things come to those who wait.  I could spout cliche after cliche about patience.  The truth is, especially now, very few of us have it.  (I'll include myself in that.)

So imagine the patience Jacob had to show for Rachel.  He worked seven years just to marry her.  SEVEN YEARS!!  No pay.  Just food, lodging and eventually a wife.  In those seven years, he never violated her purity.  He never compromised their relationship.  He never crossed his soon-to-be father-in-law and boss.  He never disrespected him.

Patience is more than about waiting.  It means commitment to see things through.  It means honoring your word.  It requires showing respect, even for people taking advantage of you.  It doesn't mean you have to like it.  It does mean you are willing to wait for what God wants you to have.

When it comes to dating or finding a mate, it is OK to wait.  Outside of making a commitment to Christ, a commitment to a husband or wife is the most life-altering decision you will make.  Why not take the time to make the right choice?

Quite frankly, making the wrong choice is devestating.  Today, 62% of kids are being raised without a biological father.  Divorce rates are at or near 50%, even for Christians.  Divorce hurts everyone.  Just any person who has experienced divorce, either as the spouse or the child or the parent.  It hurts.

Let's take the time to choose the right mate.  Lets make good choices in our dating habits, our purity and our mate selection.  We can't afford to get it wrong.

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