The fruit of the Spirit is...forbearance

     The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22, 23. NIV

        Right from the start, a definition is in order. We may be more familiar with the King James Version, which talks about “patience”, but the word is “forbearance” in the NIV and both lean toward the idea of “long-suffering”. And this leads us to Webster’s definition, “the quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry.”

        Once again, we look for patience and forbearance in the life of the Lord. One example would be when the Samaritans didn’t welcome them—James and John wanted to “call fire down from heaven to destroy them. But Jesus…rebuked them.” (Luke 9:52-56). He did not retaliate, He walked away! Another striking example would be His dealings with Saul of Tarsus. Recounting this experience many years later to Timothy, the Apostle Paul said, “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16).

        Remember what Paul had done— he had helped at the murder of Stephen; he had imprisoned men and women (Acts 8:3); perhaps he had killed others who were on the Way (Acts 9:1,2).

        But how does “forbearance” or “long-suffering” show up in my life today? What evidence would there be of this fruit? The first might be like Jesus and the Samaritans—there was no resolution coming so He just walked away. There has been a quotation floating around the internet, that bears this out:-

Walk away from people who put you down,

Walk away from fights that will never be resolved…

Jesus didn’t stay and fight, He forbore.

        The other evidence of forbearance shines out when the cause of the trouble repents—Saul the Persecutor is the prime example, but what about those Samaritans? Acts 8:14 tells us “that Samaria had accepted the word of God.” Then Peter and John “returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.” (v.25) So they had changed.

        Forbearance is still a great evidence of Christian growth. A similar case came up when the Lord told Peter to forgive seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:22), but He didn’t say to stay in the situation. A constantly abused wife or child—should forgive, but walk away. If their life or morals are threatened, they should seek help. So, a decision is still needed—remain or walk away—only the Lord can guide us, but forbearance comes first.