The Patience of the World
General Patience
There are many outside of Christ who do not possess the indwelling Spirit of God, that could be described by the world's standards as being a patient person. But what exactly is this "patience" found in the world?
The World's Patience is Self-Reliant
Patience, by the world's standard, is often a self-reliant response with the main goal of simply enduring an unfavorable circumstance. This type of patience is limited to each person's individual ability to endure. In other words, when that person reaches the end of their endurance, this may result in avoidance, behaviors like the "cancel culture", tolerance without intentionality, or even retaliation.
The World's Patience is Self-Serving
When the point of patience is to endure through unfavorable circumstances, the process is self-serving at best. Just like self-reliant patience, this type of patience is limited to each person's agenda. Meaning, once a person no longer feels that endurance is moving the other party or the circumstance towards a favorable outcome of their choosing, the patience is no longer a priority.
The World's Patience is Superficial
Self-reliant and self-serving patience not only has a limit due to the source being each person's own ability to endure, but it also lacks any deeper purpose. Little to no room is left for actual growth, especially growth of a spiritual nature. Patience of this form is interchangeable to the concept of tolerance. And tolerance, as the world views it, overlooks the desperate need for transformation, reconciliation, or repentance.
Next week we will look at how this form of patience in the world drastically differs from the patience that is extended through the Spirit of God.
