Steadfastness (1)

(From devotionals at work)

...and make every effort to supplement your self-control with steadfastness.... -2 Peter 1:5-6

"To trust in spite of the look of being forsaken; to keep crying out into the vast, whence comes no returning voice, and where seems to be no hearing; to see the machinery of the world pauselessly grinding on as if self-moved, caring for no life, nor shifting a hairsbreath for all entreaty, and yet believe that God is awake and utterly loving; to desire nothing but what comes meant for us from His hand; to wait patiently, ready to die of hunger, fearing only that faith should fail--such is the victory that overcometh the world, such is faith indeed." -George McDonald

Steadfastness can also be translated "patience." The Greek work is hupomone, and is literally translated to "abide or remain under," and is in some sense self-control in extended form. Self-control is short term and for the moment; patience is long term. If we lose our temper, we often say we have lost "patience." Actually, what we have lost is self-control. To lose it is to give in to temptation. To lose patience is to lose the capacity to get up when we fall and give in to despondency and despair.

The Bible sometimes contrasts patience with longsuffering (macrothumia). Longsuffering is active; that is, it can usually control the source of temptation or irritation, and it is usually a response to other people rather than to circumstances (especially if they are persecuting us). The loss of longsuffering, or its opposite is to reject others and withdraw from them. The best example in the Old Testament is David and his response to Saul's pursuit of him.

Patience, on the other hand, is generally passive, dealing with circumstances that are out of our control (finances, sickness, unfulfilled expectations). Rather than rejection, the negative response under circumstantial pressure is to give up hope. The best Old Testament example is Job.

Romans 5:3-4 points out a couple of things about patience. One is that is produces a positive hardness that comes from being tested and holding on to hope, similar to the process of assaying metal. Most versions call this result "character." The other thing is that patience is born out of suffering--a fact that American Christians go out of their way to avoid, and have even theologized away. But faith and hope that are never tested always remain spongy and have no real strength.

Patience is rooted in the finished work of Christ, believing that "He who began a good work in you will perform it to the end." (Also see 2 Thessalonians 1:2-3.) Patience believes that His plan for our lives is perfect, and He will bring us into perfect fellowship with us in the next world because He desires us more passionately than we do Him.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 offers this prayer: "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." Jesus is the greatest example of longsuffering and patience is history; in fact, He IS patience. When He comes by His Spirit to live is us, He brings His patience with Him. He is our source and character as we wait for the fulfillment of His purposes in our lives.

Next: Relating self-control and steadfastness.