Someone inquires regarding the patience of Job. Job did not seek assisted suicide as some might today (1) when he as a rich man swiftly lost all of his wealth, (2) when all of his children suddenly died, (3) when he suffered medical maladies with their excruciating pain, (4) despite not understanding why all these tragedies befell him, (5) and though only his nagging wife who encouraged him to curse God and die remained. Job survived, patiently; in his case, he was wonderfully blessed again with material possessions and good health. It is no wonder that Job is portrayed in the Bible as the perfect example of patience. “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). Unless we “endure,” we may never know whether God will richly bless us to replace whatever for which we should have patience.
The English word “patience” appears 34 times in the New Testament. Reviewing those occasions with the aid of a concordance will broaden our appreciation of patience. Patience is also one of the Christian virtues recorded in 1 Peter 1 that each of us ought to acquire.
