STUDY IN GALATIANS
LONG SUFFERING LONGSUFFERING DEFINED To lose one's temper can often mean unhappiness both for the in dividual on whom the wrath is vented, as well as the one who has grown tired of suffering in silence. From Galatians 5:22 we note that the fruit of the Spirit includes long- suffering. This is a quality of char acter that helps keep the Christian from "blowing his stack." It is the willing exercise of restraint in the face of strong provocation, and is a quality of character closely related to patience. In the Greek language "longsuf- fering" is a compound word similar to what we find in English. By quick analysis of the term we might as sume that one ought to be able to put up with suffering for a long period of time. In the original, how ever, it refers to the concept of en during coupled with the word for spirit or soul. Suffering does not really enter the picture. There is no indication of suffering in silence. The definite suggestion is that the problems, circumstances or people who thwart you do not cause you to become angry and to lose your temper. Literally, you have "a long spirit" or "a long soul" in the sense that you have been able to face and to live with your obstacles and dif ficulties; they do not get you down. A long-spirited person is one who even though thwarted on every hand, is not so unduly concerned that he cannot control himself. There is certainly no thought of suf fering in silence or sulking as some
people will do immaturely. The feelings are not to be stifled or "bottled up." Longsuffering is a quality to be acquired which will mark our inner life as well as all our actions. God does not want us to be miserable holding our temper in check when we are thwarted. He wants to change us so that we can live with out that terrible tension that is a part of so many people's lives. In Colossians 1:11 we read the helpful words which remind us that we are to be "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long- suffering with joyfulness." (Notice those last two words.) This is a pic ture of one who has found the joy of this wonderful fruit of the Holy Spirit. Similarly we are told in Ephesians 4:2 that our lives are to be marked "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, for bearing one another in love." The person who sits on the hopelessly jammed freeway, determined, even though he seethes, that he will not honk his horn or yell at the drivers in front of him, is not characterizing what it means here by "forbearing one another in love." In the same way, a husband or a wife who goes off to sulk, failing to have his or her own way, can find no real consola tion in thinking that forbearance has been achieved at least in the mate's presence. The concept of longsuffering is also related to patience. The noun "longsuffering," as it appears in
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