Often, Christians do not experience the kind of life God has for them because they can be too lazy and afraid of the challenges that need to be met. “Faith without work is dead” (James 2:26).
The Relationship between Faith and Patience
Patience is an aspect of faith which shows that God is never in a hurry to do anything. I preached on Genesis chapter 24 few Sundays ago and it is about the marriage of Isaac, the son of promise. He was 40 years old before his father Abraham sent Eleazar, one of his servant to find him a woman. Despite his age, he waited patiently for his time to get a wife, he was not in hurry. Most times, Christians have a false understanding of who God is and what the Christian life is all about. The Bible states; with much tribulation shall we enter the kingdom of God. That implies that a Christian will experience difficulties and hardship, which will make him grow in Christ-like character. Patience is a very important aspect of faith.
The Bible compares a Christian and the church to an army. According to the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 5 and 6; we are called to pick up our cross and follow Christ, to become the people of good character and have Christ-like strength. Things are not going to come overnight, not always, because God is gracious, He gives us more than we deserve, but most times, God will allow us to demonstrate patience before we can have what He has for us.
Faith without Work
Patience is very important and a real virtue. It does not mean that a person would sit around and do nothing and expect everything to come to them, without having to do any hard work. Faith, trust and obedience are requirements of a Christian life. I heard of a pastor who walked past a man, who was gardening, and he said hasn’t the Lord blessed you with a great garden? And the gardener replied; yes, you should have seen the state of it when God had it by Himself! Often, Christians do not experience the kind of life God has for them because they can be too lazy and afraid of the challenges that need to be met. “Faith without work is dead” (James 2:26).
