The Patience of God

A story about patience:

A friend explained his sad situation to me. His name is Nabal. Nabal had gotten a wonderful job working with a company that he had always wanted to work for. He explained to me how he loved his job so much, but on his second week at work his car broke down and with no way to work he had to miss two days. His boss was very patient and understanding and everything seemed ok.

Then he told me that things had gotten so slow at his work that he had taken several personal calls. The boss walked in on one of them and explained patiently that this was not allowed and please don't use company time for personal calls.

A few more weeks went by and Nabal had gone out to lunch with friends. They had a few drinks with their meal and made their way back to the office. The boss heard from other workers that Nabal seemed a little too happy when he came back from lunch. The boss sent another supervisor to talk to him. Nabal got very distraught when the supervisor reprimanded him for drinking. He tried to deny it but too many people saw him. This time he got a written reprimand.

Time passed, more issues came up with Nabal's performance, things that Nabal thought were minor. He felt like his work was good and minor infringements should be ignored. Then one day, after numerous attempts to get him to listen, the boss called him in and fired him. Nabal was in shock. He told me his performance was good, why was he being punished. He just didn't seem to realize the patience and grace his boss had shown him. Eventually his boss had had enough.

~____________________~

Most people when they hear Nabal's story think he wasn't very smart. He had been warned many times. His boss had shown him much patience. His firing wasn't a surprise to his colleagues.

The patience of God with us is similar. He warns us, through His word, through our pastors and friends, sometimes even through people who aren't Christians. He sends people to us, He even speaks to our hearts through the Holy Spirit, but too often we ignore His warnings.

Finally, his patience (but not His love) wears thin and judgement comes. In what manner it comes can vary, but when we ignore His warnings long enough it will come. Judgement comes not just individually, but also sometimes collectively, as a nation. When we turn our backs long enough there will be a price to pay.

Paul tells us in Romans 2: 4-5

"Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,"

Do we despise the longsuffering of God? Is our heart so hardened that we are treasuring up the righteous judgment of God?

Peter also reminds us that there will come a time when God's longsuffering will cease and a day of judgement will come. In 2 Peter 3: 9-10 Peter says this

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

Do we think, like the people of ancient Israel did during the time of Amos (Amos 4: 4-5), that our fervent worship will be enough to protect us? Worship without repentance is meaningless.

In Mark 12: 33 the scribe, after hearing Jesus proclaim the greatest commandment, says this,

"And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Sacrifices and burnt offerings are nothing compared to loving God with everything you have and sharing that love with others.

You might be interested to know that Nabal's name means "fool" in Hebrew. To heed our Lord's warnings is wisdom, to ignore them is foolishness. There is a story about another man named Nabal in I Samuel 25. He was not wise either. His judgement came and it was very final.

Dear Father,

Help us to listen and be obedient. Help us to not take your patience for granted. Forgive us for ignoring too often the warnings that you give us. With the help of your Holy Spirit help us to offer up not just empty worship, but a total love for you and our neighbors.

In Jesus's name,

Amen

Do You Heed God's Warnings