Articles
Have Patience
Someone once said, "A delay is better than a disaster." Experience teaches that doing something fast and without due consideration results in failure and costly mistakes. Augustine observed, "Patience is the companion of wisdom." Paul counseled Timothy, "Do not be hasty in the laying of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure" (1 Tim. 5:22). Certainly, appointing people to a work in haste and without due consideration can result in disaster for the Lord's people.
Wisdom warns against hasty action; "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." (21:5). Wise and godly people are patient and diligent in working for the Lord. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians that he and his co-workers commend themselves in every way by "patience" (2 Cor. 6:2-10). If we think of those we admire in the Lord, we are impressed by their patience and wisdom. When I was younger, I was concerned about telling my grandmother something I considered a "disaster." When I told her, I was surprised, but she was not surprised and did not think it was a "disaster." Grandma knew from experience that what seems horrible today improves with time and effort. She knew that jumping in to "fix it" without giving people time to work their way out of the mess was a sure way to make things worse. People learn wisdom by overcoming adversity. It takes patience to let people learn.
Jesus teaches us to consider the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-35). Jesus said, "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28-30) Jesus teaches us to consider whether we are willing to dedicate our lives to serving him. One should not make the commitment lightly. His warning, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” should give us pause. Am I willing to endure suffering for Jesus?
One must consider another cost in evaluating discipleship: “Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” (Luke 14:31-32) Not becoming a disciple has a cost as well. Like a king going to war, we must determine if we can win. If the opposing king has more troops, wisdom says to ask for peace terms. God is better armed and never loses. We better make peace with him. Both the builder and king patiently consider the cost before acting.
Men considering becoming a shepherd should be patient and deliberative in deciding whether to serve. There is a cost; wise men ask themselves whether they are willing and able. Do not be discouraged if the process takes more time. We, too, should be patient because we want wise men committed to this great work.
