7
1
7
download/literature/watchtower/1915-6.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1915/6/1915-6-1.html
VOL.
XXXVI
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
MARCH
15,
1915
PATIENT
ENDURANCE
THE
FINAL
TEST
No.6
"Let
patience
have
her
perfect
work,
that
ye
may
be
perfect
and
entire,
'Wanting
nothing."--James
1
:4.
The
Scriptures
everywhere
represent
patience
as
an
impor-
part
of
divine
wisdom
longer
to
exercise
patience
with
such.
tant
element
of
character.
In
every
phase
of
human
experi-
Likewise
also.
in
our
llealings
with
ourselves
and
others,
there
cnce
we
can
see
its
need.
To
be
just
under
present
conditions,
i8
a
limit
to
the
prop"r
exercise
of
patielH'c-!ongsull'ering.
\Ve
one
must
be
patient,
not
rash;
for
it
would
be
injurious
to
be
should
not
be
patient
with
oursclves
beyond
a
certain
point.
impatient
and
severe
with
the
unavoidable
imperfections
and
There
are
eircumstances
in
which
we
would
properly
feel
that
weaknesses
of
our
fellowmcn.
Therefore
the
spirit
of
a
sound
we
should
have
known
better
and
should
have
done
better
than
mind
demands
that
we
be
patient
in
dealing
with
fallen
human-
we
did.
ity.
God
himself
possesses
this
quality
of
patience,
and
has
LET
US
JUDGE
OURSELVES
long
exercised
it.
In
dealing
with
the
world
in
the
next
age
If
a
child
of
God
realize8
that
he
has
bcen
derelict
with
the
church
will
need
to
have
much
patience,
and
under
our
himself,
he
should
say,
I
will
not
be
patient
with
myself
any
present
environment;,
we
need
it
constantlv
in
order
to
develop
further.
I
will
take
myself
in
hand
and
conquer
this
weakness
the
character
necessary
for
a
place
on
the
throne
with
our
Lord.
which
I
have
permitted
in
a
measure
to
assert
itself
to
the
Patience
is
closely
allicd
to
love
and
mercy.
If
God
were
weakening
of
my
own
charactcr
,1lId
probably
to
the
discomfort
unloving.
unmerciful,
he
would
be
without
patience.
In
man's
and
pain
of
others.
I
cannot
do
this
in
Illy
own
unaided
present
blemished,
fallen
condition,
paticnce
is
sadly
lacking,
strength.
but
by
the
gracc
of
thc
Lord
I
am
determined
to
over-
although
it
is
often
exercised
outwardly
for
policy's
sake.
This
come
in
this
matter.
Godlike
quality.
like
all
the
other
qualities
of
character
inhe-
Parents
require
much
patience,
forbearance.
in
dealing
with
rent
in
God
anll
in
all
perfect
beings
created
in
his
likeness,
has
their
children.
The
limit
of
patience
might
<lifIer
in
regard
to
been
largely
obliterated
in
humanity
by
the
fall
of
the
first
different
children.
Therefore
the
wise
parent
will
judge
how
pair.
nearly
each
child
has
been
doing
the
right
thing.
and
how
well
In
the
New
TC8tamcnt
there
are
two
Greek
words
trans·
each
has
received
and
profited
by
instruction.
If
he
finds
that
lated
patienee.
One
of
these
words
signifies
forbearance,
long·
any
child
of
his
is
wilfully
doing
wrong,
he
should
not
continue
suffering.
The
oj
her
carries
the
thought
of
cheerful
or
hopeful
to
be
patient,
but
should
administer
the
rod.
This
would
not
endurance.
The
latter
is
the
word
used
in
our
text,
and
has
a
mean
that
the
parent
had
ceased
to
be
patient.
He
might
have
much
deeper
significance
than
attaches
ordinarily
to
our
word
patience
the
next
day
with
the
same
ehil,I.
and
suhsequently
patience.
This
constancy-the
endurance
of
evil
in
a
cheerful,
the
application
of
the
rod
might
come
again.
\Ve
are
rather
willing
manner-represents
an
elpment
of
character,
and
not
to
be
too
patient,
too
sympathetic,
than
to
have
too
little
pa
merely
a
temporary
restraint
of
feeling
or
of
action.
It
signi-
tience,
too
little
sympathy.
Remembering
our
own
weaknesses,
fies
a
development
of
heart
and
character
which
manifests
itself
we
are
to
exercise
patience
toward
others
who
arc
seeking
to
in
an
enduranee
of
wrong
or
affliction
with
contentment,
with-
overcome
their
imperfections,
even
as
we
are
seeking
to
over
out
rebellion
of
will,
with
full
acquiescence
in
the
requirement
come
our
own.
\Ve
all
need
that
patipnce,
foruearalH'l',
hI'
pxpr
of
divine
wisdom
anll
love.
whieh,
while
permitting
present
cised
toward
us.
evils
has
promised
in
due
time
to
overthrow
them.
OUR
LORD'S
LESSONS
ON
PATIENT
ENDURANCE
It
will
surely
be
profitable
for
us
to
cultivate
carefully
tbis
element
of
Christian
character
of
which
our
Lord
speaks
in
Recurring
to
the
word
patience
as
used
in
our
text,
let
us
such
high
commendation,
and
without
which.
his
Word
assures
glance
backward
to
our
Lord's
Parable
of
the
Sowpr.
as
n'-
us,
our
character
cannot
be
perfected.
The
Christian
requires
corded
in
Luke
8.
In
verse
15
we
read.
"That
on
the
good
patient
endurance
to
put
on
the
whole
armor
of
God,
and
hav-
ground
are
they,
which
in
an
honest
and
good
heart
having
ing
put
it
on,
to
keep
it
securely
buckled.
We
need
it
in
deal.
heard
the
Word,
keep
it,
and
bring
forth
fruit
with
patience."
ing
not
only
with
others,
but
also
with
ourselves,
with
our
own
patient
endurance,
constancy.
The
thought
here
is
that
to
be
blemishes.
We
should
always
take
into
account
the
various
of
the
fruit-bearing
class
which
the
Lord
will
approve
and
ac
circumstances
and
conditions
surrounding
ourselves
and
others.
cept
in
his
kingdom
we
must
do
more
than
to
receive
the
\Vord
As
we
look
around,
we
see
that
the
world
is
in
a
condition
of
of
his
testimony,
even
though
we
receive
it
with
joy.
It
means
blight.
of
sin.
This
knowledge
should
give
us
great
sympathy
more;
for
the
stony
ground
class
at
first
thus
received
it.
For
wi,th
humanity,
without
which
we
would
have
but
little
pa.
a
brief
time
these
seemed
to
give
evidence
of
fruitfulness
and
tience.
All
of
our
brethren
in
Christ,
like
ourselves,
are
by
vigor;
but
when
the
hot
sun
of
persecution
arose,
they
with-
nature
members
of
this
fallen
human
race.
Therefore
we
should
ered
away,
because
of
lack
of
depth
of
soil.
have
a
great
deal
of
patient
endurance
with
the
Lord's
people,
In
this
parable
the
Lord
shows
that
patient
endurance.
con-
as
we
would
have
them
exercise
this
grace
toward
us.
stancy,
is
the
final
test
of
character.
It
follows
after
the
re·
ceiving
and
the
sprouting
of
the
seed;
it
follows
after
love,
THE
PATIENCE
OF
GOD
hope,
joy
and
faith
have
caused
the
seed
to
spring
forth
and
As
the
quality
of
justice
will
always
persist,
so
will
the
begin
to
bear
fruit.
Patient
endurance,
then,
is
necessary
in
quality
of
patience,
though
not
in
the
sense
of
patient
endur-
order
that
the
fruit
may
be
developed
and
thoroughly
ripened,
Rnee
of
evil.
God
patiently
works
out
his
own
glorious
designs,
that
the
grain
may
be
made
ready
for
the
garner.
Ah,
how
im-
in
perfect
cquipoise
of
mind.
At
present
this
requires
the
exer·
portant
this
grace
is
seen
to
be,
in
the
light
of
God's
Word!
eise
of
patient
endurance
with
evil,
sinful
conditions;
and
in
But
remember
that
the
endurance
must
be
cheerful.
\Ve
can
the
ages
of
glory
to
come
God
will,
we
believe,
still
work
out
not
suppose
that
he
who
judges
the
thoughts
and
intents
of
his
purposes
in
perfect
patience,
probably
in
worlds
yet
unin-
the
heart
would
be
pleased
with
his
children,
even
when
he
saw
habited.
them
bearing
much
for
his
sake,
if
they
endured
it
in
an
im-
But
in
the
exercise
of
patience
under
present
evil
condi-
patient
or
dissatisfied
or
unhappy
frame
of
mind.
tions.
wisdom
must
have
a
voice.
God
has
declared
that
in
his
Those
who
thus
endure
surely
would
not
be
copies
of
God's
wisdom
the
time
will
come
when
he
will
cease
to
exercise
pa-
dear
Son,
whose
sentiment
found
expression
in
the
words,
"I
tience
toward
the
world.
That
is
to
say,
he
will
no
longer
bear
delight
to
do
thy
will,
0
my
God!"
All
of
the
royal
priesthood
with
the
world
in
their
present
sinful,
imperfect
condition.
are
sacrificers,
as
was
our
great
Chief
Priest;
and
God
who
ac-
That
time
has
almost
arrived.
The
great
cataclysm
of
trouble,
cepts
our
sacrifices
through
the
merit
of
our
dear
Redeemer,
now
about
due,
will
sweep
away
the
entire
present
order
pre-
informs
us
that
he
loves
a
cheerful
giver-one
who
performs
his
para
tory
to
the
establishment
of
the
kingdom
of
God
under
the
sacrifices
gladly,
with
a
willing
heart.
This
does
not
mean
that
whole
heavens.
Then
God
will
give
men
the
fullest
opportu-
our
bodies
will
never
grow
weary;
but
that
our
spirit
will
re-
nity
of
coming
into
harmony
with
himself
and
righteousness
joice
in
the
privilege
of
suffering
weariness
of
the
flesh
in
so
before
he
will
deal
with
them
summarily.
noble
and
wonderful
a
service.
But
if
our
Father
should
see
The
time
is
coming
when
there
will
be
no
more
sin.
God
best
to
lay
us
aside
from
active
work
for
a
time,
when
our
will
have
a
clean
universe
by
and
by.
But
he
will
first
give
hearts
are
longing
to
serve,
this
too
will
be
an
opportunity
to
everybody
an
opportunity
to
rise
out
of
sin.
If
they
will
not
endure
cheerfully
his
will
for
us.
It
may
also
be
a
test
of
our
avail
themselves
of
the
opportunity,
then
God's
patience,
long-
full
submission
of
our
wills
to
his,
and
thus
be
an
important
suffering,
will
cease
to
be
operative
toward
such.
This
will
not
stepping-stone
upward
toward
the
kingdom
glories
and
privi-
mean
that
God's
patience
has
ceased,
but
that
its
activity
has
leges.
ceased
in
that
direction.
The
other
instance
in
which
the
Lord
used
this
word
pa·
God's
patience
has
arranged
the
thousand
years
of
Mes-
tience,
or
patient
endurance,
is
recorded
in
Luke
21:
19.
He
siah's
reign
for
man's
blessing,
and
his
wisdom
has
decided
had
just
been
telling
his
followers
that
they
must
expect
tribu
that
those
thousand
veal'S
will
be
sufficient
for
the
elimination
lations
as
the
result
of
being
his
disciples
during
the
present
of
evil.
Whoever
wiil
not
learn
to
live
righteously
under
those
time,
when
sin
abounds,
when
Satan
is
the
prince
of
this
world.
favorable
conditions
would
never
learn,
and
it
would
not
be
the
They
must
expect
opposition
from
various
quarters;
but
he
as-
(83-84)
[5650]
Vou. XXXVI BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH 15, 1915 No. 6 PATIENT ENDURANCE THE FINAL. TEST “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”—James 1:4. The Scriptures everywhere represent patience as an important element of character. In every phase of human experience we can see its need. To be just under present conditions, one must be patient, not rash; for it would be injurious to be impatient and severe with the unavoidable imperfections and weaknesses of our fellowmen. Therefore the spirit of a sound mind demands that we be patient in dealing with fallen humanity. God himself possesses this quality of patience, and has long exercised it. In dealing with the world in the next age the church will need to have much patience, and under our present environments we need it constantly in order to develop the character necessary for a place on the throne with our Lord. Patience is closely allied to love and mercy. If God were unloving. unmerciful, he would be without patience. In man’s present blemished, fallen condition, patience is sadly lacking, although it is often exercised outwardly for policy’s sake. This Godlike quality, like all the other qualities of character inherent in God and in all perfect beings created in his likeness, has been largely obliterated in humanity by the fall of the first pair. In the New Testament there are two Greek words translated patience. One of these words signifies forbearance, longsuffering. The other carries the thought of cheerful or hopeful endurance, The latter is the word used in our text, and has a much deeper significance than attaches ordinarily to our word patience. This constancy—the endurance of evil in a cheerful, willing manner—represents an element of character, and not merely a temporary restraint of feeling or of action. It signifies a development of heart and character which manifests itself in an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment, without rebellion of will, with full acquiescence in the requirement of divine wisdom and love, which, while permitting present evils has promised in due time to overthrow them. It will surely be profitable for us to cultivate carefully this element of Christian character of which our Lord speaks in such high commendation, and without which, his Word assures us, our character cannot be perfected. The Christian requires patient endurance to put on the whole armor of God, and having put it on, to keep it securely buckled. We need it in dealing not only with others, but also with ourselves, with our own blemishes, We should always take into account the various circumstances and conditions surrounding ourselves and others. As we look around, we see that the world is in a condition of blight. of sin. This knowledge should give us great sympathy with humanity, without which we would have but little patience. All of our brethren in Christ, like ourselves, are by nature members of this fallen human race. Therefore we should have a great deal of patient endurance with the Lord’s people, as we would have them exercise this grace toward us. THE PATIENCE OF GOD As the quality of justice will always persist, so will the quality of patience, though not in the sense of patient endurance of evil. God patiently works out his own glorious designs, in perfect equipoise of mind. At present this requires the exercise of patient endurance with evil, sinful conditions; and in the ages of glory to come God will, we believe, still work out his purposes in perfect patience, probably in worlds yet uninhabited. But in the exercise of patience under present evil conditions, wisdom must have a voice. God has declared that in his wisdom the time will come when he will cease to exercise patience toward the world. That is to say, he will no longer bear with the world in their present sinful, imperfect condition. That time has almost arrived. The great cataclysm of trouble, now about due, will sweep away the entire present order preparatory to the establishment of the kingdom of God under the whole heavens. Then God will give men the fullest opportunity of coming into harmony with himself and righteousness before he will deal with them summarily. The time is coming when there will be no more sin. God will have a clean universe by and by. But he will first give everybody an opportunity to rise out of sin. If they will not avail themselves of the opportunity, then God’s patience, longsuffering, will cease to be operative toward such. This will not mean that God’s patience has ceased, but that its activity has ceased in that direction. God’s patience has arranged the thousand years of Messiah’s reign for man’s blessing, and his wisdom has decided that those thousand years will be sufficient for the elimination of evil. Whoever will not learn to live righteously under those favorable conditions would never learn, and it would not be the (83-84) part of divine wisdom longer to exercise patience with such, Likewise also, in our dealings with ourselves and others, there is a limit to the proper exercise of patience—longsutfering. We should not be patient with ourselves beyond a certain point. There are circumstances in which we would properly feel that we should have known better and should have done better than we did. LET US JUDGE OURSELVES If a child of God realizes that he has been derelict with himself, he should say, I will not be patient with myself any further. I will take myself in hand and conquer this weakness which I have permitted in a measure to assert itself to the weakening of my own character and probably to the discomfort and pain of others. JI cannot do this in my own unaided strength, but by the grace of the Lord I am determined to overcome in this matter. Parents require much patience, forbearance, in dealing with their children. The limit of patience might differ in regard to different children. Therefore the wise parent will judge how nearly each child has been doing the right thing. and how well each has received and profited by instruction. If he finds that any child of his is wilfully doing wrong, he should not continue to be patient, but should administer the rod, This would not mean that the parent had ceased to be patient. He might have patience the next day with the same child. and subsequently the application of the rod might come again. We are rather to be too patient, too sympathetic, than to have too little patience, too little sympathy. Remembering our own weaknesses, we are to exercise patience toward others who are seeking to overcome their imperfections, even as we are seeking to overcome our own. We all need that patience, forbearance, be exercised toward us. OUR LORD’S LESSONS ON PATIENT ENDURANCE Recurring to the word patience as used in our text, let us glance backward to our Lord’s Parable of the Sower. as recorded in Luke 8. In verse 15 we read. “That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience,” patient endurance, constancy. The thought here is that to be of the fruit-bearing class which the Lord will approve and accept in his kingdom we must do more than to receive the Word of his testimony, even though we receive it with joy. It means more; for the stony ground class at first thus received it. For a brief time these seemed to give evidence of fruitfulness and vigor; but when the hot sun of persecution arose, they withered away, because of lack of depth of soil, In this parable the Lord shows that patient endurance, constancy, is the final test of character. It follows after the receiving and the sprouting of the seed; it follows after love, hope, joy and faith have caused the seed to spring forth and begin to bear fruit. Patient endurance, then, is necessary in order that the fruit may be developed and thoroughly ripened, that the grain may be made ready for the garner. Ah, how important this grace is seen to be, in the light of God’s Word! But remember that the endurance must be cheerful. We cannot suppose that he who judges the thoughts and intents of the heart would be pleased with his children, even when he saw them bearing much for his sake, if they endured it in an impatient or dissatisfied or unhappy frame of mind. Those who thus endure surely would not be copies of God’s dear Son, whose sentiment found expression in the words, “I delight to do thy will, O my God!” All of the royal priesthood are sacrificers, as was our great Chief Priest; and God who accepts our sacrifices through the merit of our dear Redeemer, informs us that he loves a cheerful giver—one who performs his sacrifices gladly, with a willing heart. This does not mean that our bodies will never grow weary; but that our spirit will rejoice in the privilege of suffering weariness of the flesh in so noble and wonderful a service. But if our Father should see best to lay us aside from active work for a time, when our hearts are Jonging to serve, this too will be an opportunity to endure cheerfully his will for us. It may also be a test of our full submission of our wills to his, and thus be an important stepping-stone upward toward the kingdom glories and privileges. The other instance in which the Lord used this word patience, or patient endurance, is recorded in Luke 21:19. He had just been telling his followerg that they must expect tribulations as the result of being his disciples during the present time, when sin abounds, when Satan is the prince of this world. They must expect opposition from various quarters; but he as [5650]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
