Do You Appreciate God’s Patience Toward You?

“Jehovah . . . is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.”​—2 Pet. 3:9.

1. (a) Why do we appreciate persons who are patient with us? (Prov. 25:15) (b) What can result when we become impatient with others?

ARE we not glad when people deal patiently with us, not treating us harshly? We appreciate it when they take into consideration our problems and circumstances, kindly assisting us to the extent of their ability. Life today is accompanied by enough problems without one’s being subjected to needless pressure from impatient persons. Moreover, if we were to become impatient ourselves, this would not make our life more enjoyable. Rather, we would be irritating others and making it more difficult for them to deal kindly with us. Our impatience could even hurt persons to whom we look for help and encouragement.

2, 3. (a) What conviction is vital for us to remain patient when seeing godless people prosper? (Ps. 37:1-6; Heb. 11:6) (b) How does Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13 show that it is always best to be a person who fears Jehovah?

² But how can one remain patient when one sees injustice and oppression, and when godless people seem to prosper? It calls for faith. Yes, we must be convinced that Jehovah God will set all things straight. This is in keeping with what King Solomon observed and was inspired to record: “Although a sinner may be doing bad a hundred times and continuing a long time as he pleases, yet I am also aware that it will turn out well with those fearing the true God, because they were in fear of him. But it will not turn out well at all with the wicked one, neither will he prolong his days that are like a shadow, because he is not in fear of God.”​—Eccl. 8:12, 13.

³ Human justice may be lax and criminals may be able to escape punishment through some legal loophole. Lawless persons may think that they are getting away with something. But, as Solomon pointed out, their badness brings no reward. Their life passes quickly, “like a shadow,” and all their shrewdness and scheming will be of no benefit in lengthening it. On the other hand, fearers of God are not really put at a disadvantage. They preserve a clean conscience, find satisfaction in doing what they know to be right and, even if they should die, have the hope of being raised to life. In the final analysis, ‘it does indeed turn out well with those fearing the true God.’

4. Whenever we are disturbed by what we see going on in the world, what should we keep in mind, as highlighted in Genesis 6:5, 6 and Habakkuk 1:13?

⁴ Further, true Christians do well to keep in mind that the lawlessness that is disturbing to them is also distressing to Jehovah God. We know this because of what the Bible says about the way he felt toward the violent world of Noah’s time. We read: “Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time. And Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth, and he felt hurt at his heart.” (Gen. 6:5, 6) Yes, Jehovah regretted that mankind had turned out so bad that he was obliged to destroy them. He was deeply hurt over the fact that they misused their life and his abundant provisions for their existence. Centuries later, the prophet Habakkuk wrote of Jehovah: “You are too pure in eyes to see [with pleasure] what is bad; and to look [approvingly] on trouble you are not able.”​—Hab. 1:13.

5. According to 2 Peter 3:9, why has Jehovah exercised patience?

⁵ Nevertheless, the Almighty God has patiently put up with rebellious mankind. Why? “Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Note that God’s patience has been for the benefit of Christians, for the apostle Peter addressed fellow believers with the words, “he is patient with you.” Just what does this mean?

6. Why can it be said that Jehovah’s patience has been for the benefit of true Christians?

⁶ The apostle was showing that what some people interpreted as slowness on God’s part should be viewed in an entirely different light. The fact that Jehovah’s day of vengeance has not yet come proves that he loves mankind, that he wants people to live, not to die. At one time Christians were unbelievers and, hence, did not have an approved standing before him. Had the Most High executed his judgment against the ungodly world then, they, too, would have perished. So God’s patience has worked to the salvation of Christians, even as it opens up to all the opportunity for salvation. Should we not be grateful that this has been the case?

7. (a) Will Jehovah be patient with disobedient mankind indefinitely? (Isa. 55:6, 7; Zeph. 2:2, 3) (b) What proves that we are living in the “last days”? (c) Why do we especially have to exercise patience?

⁷ Of course, the time is fast approaching for Jehovah God to bring to a close the present ‘day of opportunity’ for those now living to come into an approved relationship with him. (2 Cor. 6:2) Bible prophecy and Bible chronology point to the time since 1914 C.E., with its increasing crime and violence, wars, food shortages, earthquakes, fear and unrest, as the “last days” for this ungodly world. (Mark 13:3-37; Luke 21:7-36; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) As long as this system continues in its “last days,” Christians must keep on exercising patience, confidently looking to Jehovah God to bring relief through his Son Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:6-9) This is so because these “last days” will continue to be “critical times hard to deal with.”​—2 Tim. 3:1.

PROPHETS AS PATTERNS OF PATIENCE

8. Whose example of patience did the disciple James point to, and what question might this raise?

⁸ Now especially, therefore, we need to draw encouragement from the example of patience that ancient servants of God set. “Brothers,” wrote the disciple James, “take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets, who spoke in the name of Jehovah.” (Jas. 5:10) Just what did these prophets face, and why?

9. (a) What kind of response did the prophets receive from their countrymen? (b) Why did they continue showing patience toward the Israelites for many years?

⁹ Often the prophets found that their fellow Israelites refused to listen to them, insisting on continuing in their own lawless ways. The Bible provides the following summary of the situation in Israel and Judah: “Jehovah kept warning Israel and Judah by means of all his prophets and every visionary, saying: ‘Turn back from your bad ways and keep my commandments, my statutes, according to all the law that I commanded your forefathers and that I have sent to you by means of my servants the prophets’; and they did not listen.” (2 Ki. 17:13, 14) Yet, despite such unresponsiveness, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah faithfully served for decades. They were concerned about the welfare of their countrymen, appreciating that acting in harmony with the prophetic warnings meant life.

10. What kind of suffering did the prophets experience during the reign of King Ahab?

¹⁰ The people’s general failure to listen was not the only obstacle with which the prophets had to contend patiently. Many were reviled, physically abused and even killed. In the time of Israelite King Ahab, for example, all prophets of Jehovah that his Baal-worshiping queen Jezebel could seize were put to death. One hundred others, helped by God-fearing Obadiah, escaped by hiding in caves. (1 Ki. 18:4, 13) During the same time, Jehovah, because of what he had in mind for him, protected his prophet Elijah from falling into Ahab’s hands. (1 Ki. 18:10-12) Later, even Elijah fled for his life from Jezebel. (1 Ki. 19:2, 3) But Jehovah God sent him right back into the land to continue his prophetic work. (1 Ki. 19:9, 15-18) At another time King Ahab ordered that Jehovah’s prophet Micaiah be put into prison with a reduced allowance of food and drink. Why? Because Micaiah had truthfully declared the word of Jehovah.​—1 Ki. 22:26, 27.

11. What suffering faced Jeremiah during his many years of prophesying?

¹¹ Another prophet who endured much was Jeremiah. Men from his own hometown Anathoth threatened to kill him. (Jer. 11:21) Once a mob, including priests and false prophets, seized the prophet in the temple area and threatened him with death. (Jer. 26:8-11) The Bible reports that he was “struck” by the temple commissioner, priest Pashhur. This may mean that Pashhur ordered that the prophet be beaten. With such a high official taking the lead in abusing Jeremiah, the rest of the people must have been emboldened to heap jeers, ridicule and abuse on the prophet. Then, like a criminal, Jeremiah was put in stocks overnight. (Jer. 20:2, 3, 7, 8) Arrested under the false charge of having fallen away to the Chaldeans, Jeremiah was imprisoned in the “house of fetters” under such bad conditions that his life was in jeopardy. He appealed to King Zedekiah, who thereafter had him put in custody in the Courtyard of the Guard. (Jer. 37:11-16, 20, 21) Later, Zedekiah yielded to the demands of the princes to have Jeremiah turned over to them. These princes sought to kill the prophet by throwing him into a miry cistern.​—Jer. 38:5, 6.

12. What does Jeremiah 38:20 and 8:21–9:1 reveal as to Jeremiah’s exercise of patience?

¹² Truly, Jeremiah suffered much evil at the hands of his countrymen. But he continued to exercise patience, not becoming embittered toward them. For instance, after King Zedekiah had turned him over to the princes who were seeking his death, the prophet showed concern for that weak monarch’s welfare. Jeremiah pleaded with him: “Obey, please, the voice of Jehovah in what I am speaking to you, and it will go well with you, and your soul will continue to live.” (Jer. 38:20) Earlier, when contemplating the terrible judgment to come upon Judah and Jerusalem, Jeremiah had expressed, not feelings of vindictiveness, but sorrow. He said: “Over the breakdown of the daughter of my people I have become shattered. I have grown sad. Outright astonishment has seized hold of me. Is there no balsam in Gilead? Or is there no healer there? Why is it, then, that the recuperation of the daughter of my people has not come up? O that my head were waters, and that my eyes were a source of tears! Then I could weep day and night for the slain ones of the daughter of my people.” (Jer. 8:21–9:1) What patience, what love, Jeremiah displayed toward his people, the Israelites!

13. What shows that the prophets were distressed by the conditions that they saw? (Jer. 5:3, 4)

¹³ We should never forget, however, that Jeremiah and the other faithful prophets keenly sensed the terrible injustices and oppression that were being carried on in the land. They longed for relief. The prophet Habakkuk, for example, was moved to exclaim: “Why is it that you make me see what is hurtful, and you keep looking upon mere trouble? And why are despoiling and violence in front of me, and why does quarreling occur, and why is strife carried on? Therefore law grows numb, and justice never goes forth. Because the wicked one is surrounding the righteous one, for that reason justice goes forth crooked.”​—Hab. 1:3, 4.

14. While faithful prophets desired relief from bad conditions, what did they not do with reference to Jehovah and his message? (Jer. 20:9; Mic. 3:8)

¹⁴ Nevertheless, the faithful prophets did not allow their personal desires for relief to cause them to become impatient with Jehovah or to stop proclaiming his message. As long as Jehovah was exercising patience for a purpose, they were willing to bear reproach as they proclaimed his message: “Turn back, turn back from your bad ways, for why is it that you should die, O house of Israel?”​—Ezek. 33:11.

FINE EXAMPLES IN PATIENCE SHOULD STIR US TO ACTION

15. Why do we have even greater reason to be patient than did the Hebrew prophets?

¹⁵ Surely, if the ancient Hebrew prophets could be so patient when faced with great hardships, we have even greater reason to be patient. Why? Because we have so much more than the prophets had. The prophets were looking forward in faith to the coming of the Messiah but knew that they would not be alive to see that grand event. Jesus Christ told the Jews: “I truly say to you, Many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things you are beholding and did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing and did not hear them.” (Matt. 13:17) Many of the things the prophets were awaiting in faith were fulfilled centuries ago. Moreover, many living today have personally witnessed the fulfillment of yet other prophecies. (Rev. 6:1-8; 17:8) By giving his life in sacrifice, Jesus Christ furnished an unchangeable guarantee that all of God’s promises will be fulfilled. (2 Cor. 1:20, 21) Daily we see evidence that we are living in the “time of the end.” (Dan. 11:40-43; 12:1, 4; Matt. 24:7-14) Hence, Jesus Christ’s encouragement applies to us: “Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near.” (Luke 21:28) Yes, soon the Son of God as “King of kings and Lord of lords” will take action against the ungodly, bringing welcome relief from all suffering and oppression.​—Rev. 19:11-21.

16. How can we demonstrate that we appreciate Jehovah’s patience toward us?

¹⁶ Should we not patiently wait for that great day, especially since it is so near? Should we not want to help as many as possible to learn of God’s way of salvation? And when it comes to the shortcomings of others, should we not be willing to put up with these patiently? If we sincerely appreciate that God’s patience has meant salvation for us, we will be stirred at heart to do so.

THE PRECIOUS FRUITAGE OF PATIENCE

17. What illustration found at James 5:7, 8 shows that exercising patience is essential if we are going to see fine fruitage?

¹⁷ Our continuing to exercise patience, in imitation of the faithful prophets, can lead to our seeing fine fruitage. This is evident from what the disciple James wrote: “Exercise patience . . . , brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until he gets the early rain and the late rain. You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm.”​—Jas. 5:7, 8.

18. While the farmer cannot hasten the rain or the growing of crops, what can he do in anticipation of a harvest?

¹⁸ The farmer can do nothing to hasten the rain or the growing of his crops. He can do his job as an industrious agriculturalist in preparing the soil, sowing the seed and caring for the cultivated field. But he has no control over the rains, nor can he change the Creator’s fixed laws relative to the growth of his crops. His waiting in circumstances that he cannot change, waiting in harmony with Jehovah’s laws, is referred to as the ‘exercising of patience.’ Eventually, as the farmer continues doing what he can, the plants grow and there is fruitage.

19. How does patience enter the picture when it comes to producing fruitage in the form of genuine disciples?

¹⁹ So it is with true Christians today. It is our responsibility to proclaim the “good news” to others and to teach God’s Word to interested persons. (1 Cor. 9:16; Matt. 28:19, 20) But, by our ingenuity or methods that we might devise, we cannot produce or speed up spiritual growth. For this, we must wait on Jehovah while we patiently do our part, acting in full harmony with his Word. The apostle Paul made this clear when he wrote: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow; so that neither is he that plants anything nor is he that waters, but God who makes it grow. Now he that plants and he that waters are one, but each person will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.” (1 Cor. 3:6-9) Jehovah God will not fail to do his part. May we, therefore, prove to be faithful fellow workers of his, thereby showing that we appreciate Jehovah’s patience toward us. Then, how happy we will be to see some of what we have planted and watered coming to full Christian growth! Yes, there will be fruitage in the form of genuine disciples of Jesus Christ.

Continue to Be Patient

“It is for Jehovah that I shall keep on the lookout. I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”​—Mic. 7:7.

1. What fine benefits have resulted from Jehovah’s exercise of patience?

PATIENCE does indeed bring rich dividends. God’s exercise of patience has opened up to mankind the grand opportunity of everlasting life as his approved servants. (John 17:3; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3, 4) It has provided individuals with time to learn about his requirements and to begin conforming to these. Many have done so. As a result, these persons are even now enjoying a meaningful life, avoiding the frustrations and troubles that come upon people who ignore God’s righteous standards.

2. If we exercise patience in dealing with others, how are we benefited now?

² On the individual level, too, exercising patience is rewarding. The patient person does not allow himself to get upset quickly and, hence, is less likely to act rashly. Thus he preserves a good conscience and avoids needless quarreling and fighting. There is also a health benefit. A Bible proverb says: “A calm heart is the life of the fleshly organism.” (Prov. 14:30) Calmness and patience, even in the face of trying circumstances, further the well-being of the entire body. On the other hand, continued upsets and irritations are like a disease that can weaken the human frame. In view of the benefits that come from showing patience, we should certainly want to display this fine quality.

3. Why should we view being patient with others as an obligation?

³ There is still another good reason for being patient. We should consider it an obligation. Why? Note the principle stated by Jesus Christ: “All things . . . that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matt. 7:12) Now, do we not want men to be patient with us? We appreciate it when others listen to us patiently regarding important matters. There is pleasure in associating with those who patiently explain things that we do not understand. It is much easier for us to deal with people who are willing to overlook our minor shortcomings, who are patient with us despite our repeated failings. So, then, are these not also areas in which we should want to exercise patience?

4. What should be our prime reason for wanting to be patient?

⁴ For us Christians, the strongest reason for wanting to be patient should be our desire to please Jehovah God. Since he is patient, we are called upon to imitate him in this respect. The Bible urges us: “Become imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Eph. 5:1) But what will help us to reflect God’s patience to a greater degree?

RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF IMPATIENCE

5. With what undesirable trait does Ecclesiastes 7:8 associate impatience, and how may this manifest itself?

⁵ We should avoid viewing undue impatience lightly. The Bible says: “Better is one who is patient than one who is haughty in spirit. Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones.” (Eccl. 7:8, 9) Note that the patient person is here contrasted with the one who is haughty, proud. The proud person may reason: Why should I have to put up with irritations and annoyances caused by the stupidity and selfishness of others? Who do they think I am? Also, the haughty one is quick to take everything personally and to lash out against anyone who might correct him. He nurtures resentment, keeping it close to him as if in his own “bosom.”

6. Why can it be said that the haughty, impatient person is also “stupid”?

⁶ Truly, such a person is “stupid.” His haste in taking offense results in rash words or actions, to his own hurt and that of others. He is also unbalanced in his view of himself. This is evident from the apostle Paul’s counsel at Romans 12:3: “I tell everyone there among you not to think more of himself than it is necessary to think; but to think so as to have a sound mind.” Furthermore, the person who permits haughtiness and impatience to gain the mastery over him may jeopardize his standing with Jehovah God. Why? “Because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”​—1 Pet. 5:5.

7. Should we attribute all impatience to pride? Why, or why not?

⁷ Of course, not all forms of impatience are rooted in pride. For example, a family may have an appointment for dinner at a specific time in the home of friends. The father and mother may be ready to go in ample time to get there without hurrying. However, the daughter, because of not being enthusiastic about going, or for some other reason, may have delayed making the needed preparations to leave. The parents may, therefore, urge her to get ready more quickly so that they will not be late. Any impatience they may reflect in their tone of voice cannot be attributed to pride. Rather, they may be troubled about their daughter’s failure to be considerate, and they may be concerned about the disturbing effect that their being late could have on their hosts. This also illustrates the importance of avoiding situations that could give valid reasons for others to become impatient with us. Here, too, the principle applies: “Just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them.”​—Luke 6:31.

8. What do we learn from 1 Samuel 13:3-14 about the danger of impatience?

⁸ So while there may be just cause to become impatient at times, we need to recognize the seriousness of impatience that stems from pride or that can cause us to act rashly. The danger of allowing impatience to get the better of us is well illustrated in the case of King Saul. After Saul’s son Jonathan struck down the Philistine garrison at Geba, the Philistines, in retaliation, assembled a mighty force and encamped at Michmash. In the meantime Saul was at Gilgal in the Jordan valley, waiting for the prophet Samuel. When the prophet did not arrive at the expected time, Saul became impatient. He feared that the Philistines would come against him before he could secure the help of Jehovah by offering up a burnt sacrifice. Also, in view of the fact that his men were deserting him, he was concerned about any further delay that could lead to his losing the entire army. Yielding to impatience, Saul presumptuously went ahead with the sacrifice, disregarding the command of Jehovah, through Samuel, to wait. Soon thereafter Samuel arrived. (1 Sam. 13:3-12) That one rash act had serious consequences. Samuel told Saul: “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Jehovah your God that he commanded you, because, if you had, Jehovah would have made your kingdom firm over Israel to time indefinite. And now your kingdom will not last.” (1 Sam. 13:13, 14) Think of it! Saul’s impatience, leading to a sinful act, was one of the principal reasons for Jehovah’s removing kingship from his line of descent. So we should never underestimate the trouble that undue impatience may bring upon us.

LEARN FROM JEHOVAH’S EXAMPLE

9. (a) How does Jesus’ illustration about the two slaves and their debts illustrate a relationship of forgiveness to patience? (b) What can we not expect Jehovah to do for us if we become impatient and merciless toward our brothers?

⁹ Our being patient often involves a willingness to forgive others’ trespasses against us. In this regard, our reflecting on Jehovah’s example of forgiveness can help us greatly in being patient with fellow humans. An illustration given by Jesus Christ makes the point very forcefully. The apostle Peter had raised the question: “How many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus replied: “I say to you, not, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy-seven times.” Then he related the illustration of two slaves. One of these owed the king 60,000,000 denarii. When time came for settling accounts, this slave pleaded: “Be patient with me and I will pay back everything to you.” Moved with pity, the king canceled the entire debt. But this slave then approached a fellow slave, demanding that he repay a 100-denarii debt. That slave pleaded: “Be patient with me and I will pay you back.” But the slave whose far larger debt had been canceled was unwilling to be patient. He had his fellow slave imprisoned. Hearing this, the king changed his mind and had the impatient, merciless slave committed to jail. Applying the illustration, Jesus said: “In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.”​—Matt. 18:21-35.

10. How should we view our brothers’ shortcomings in the light of God’s forgiveness of our sins?

¹⁰ Compared with the large debt of sin that Jehovah God has forgiven us on the basis of his Son’s sacrifice, whatever transgression may be committed against us by a Christian brother is small indeed. So if he is repentant, what right do we have to become impatient with him or to want him to suffer for what he may have done against us?

11. (a) What was Jehovah willing to do in order to provide the basis for forgiving the sins of humankind? (Rom. 5:6-8) (b) How should God’s example in providing a propitiatory sacrifice affect us? (1 John 4:11)

¹¹ Never should we lose sight of the fact that the basis on which Jehovah God grants forgiveness was provided by him at great cost to himself. He loved his Son deeply. Jesus Christ himself said: “The Father has affection for the Son.” (John 5:20) Still, the Most High was willing to give him for the world of mankind as a “propitiatory sacrifice” for our sins. (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2) No human has ever sacrificed that much in providing a basis for restoring good relations with someone who has sinned against him. What a superlative example Jehovah has set in encouraging us to be patient with those who may sin against us!

RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS

12. (a) What lesson about our brothers can we draw from Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:14-26, and how can this help us to be patient with them? (b) How can the counsel of Philippians 2:3 aid us to be patient?

¹² Also helpful in cultivating patience is the right attitude toward others. We need to take into consideration that people and circumstances vary. Some, for example, may be slow to grasp things, but others may comprehend detailed instructions very quickly. Yet, this does not make inferior persons of those who are slow or more methodical! They may well excel in other areas of life​—kindness, friendliness and generosity. So we do well to look at persons as a whole. The apostle Paul’s counsel to the Philippians is most appropriate: Consider “that the others are superior to you.” (Phil. 2:3) True, no imperfect human has all the desirable qualities. If he is humble, he will readily see that others excel in areas wherein he is weak and that he, too, may try their patience at times.

13. What proves that Jesus was patient in dealing with his apostles?

¹³ Jesus Christ certainly demonstrated just what it means to have the right attitude toward others. He patiently put up with his apostles​—their petty rivalries and their slowness to comprehend. Never did he lose his temper in dealing with them. Rather, he patiently illustrated lessons he wanted them to learn. (Mark 9:33-37; John 13:5-17) We have no record that Jesus Christ ever gave his associates a tongue-lashing. How fine it would be for us to imitate his perfect example!

WILLINGNESS TO WAIT

14. When it comes to congregation responsibility, why might some brothers become impatient?

¹⁴ However, it is not just the shortcomings of others or their limitations that may put our patience to the test. Often it is a matter of being willing to wait for what is desirable to take place. The question is: Will we be impatient like a child that wants everything right away, or will we be willing to wait patiently until the appropriate time? Perhaps you are a brother in the Christian congregation. Because of not being a ministerial servant, do you find it hard to wait until such time as you have truly been “tested as to fitness”? (1 Tim. 3:10) If you have been a ministerial servant for perhaps a year or so, do you feel that it is about time that consideration be given to recommending you as an elder? Or, are you willing to wait, using your time well in getting a deeper and better understanding of God’s Word and proving yourself to be cooperative, dependable, considerate and fully devoted to Jehovah’s service?

15. (a) Why does wanting to be entrusted with responsibility also call for sober self-examination? (Jas. 3:1, 2) (b) What might a brother desiring to share in shepherding the flock ask himself?

¹⁵ Of course, it is commendable when brothers ‘reach out’ for greater responsibility. The apostle Paul wrote: “That statement is faithful. If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work.” (1 Tim. 3:1) Nevertheless, with responsibility comes greater accountability. Jesus Christ stated the rule: “The one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual of him.” (Luke 12:48) Hence, if you desire greater responsibility, you should first examine whether your life as a Christian could come under closer scrutiny by other members of the congregation without raising questions as to the kind of example you are setting. You might also ask yourself: Do I really want to serve my brothers? Do I have the godly wisdom and insight to judge matters involving people’s lives? Could I give sound Scriptural counsel that would help others with their personal and family problems? Do others really view me as an “older man” by reason of my experience in Christian living? Such sober self-examination may calm any tendency toward impatience. It may impress upon you the importance of waiting patiently until such time as you can really serve your brothers well.

16. How might the apostle Paul’s words at 1 Timothy 5:22, 24, 25 help a brother to wait humbly and patiently until others can see that he qualifies for greater responsibilities?

¹⁶ It may also help you to consider the weighty responsibility that falls upon elders who make recommendations for brothers to serve as overseers. The apostle Paul counseled Timothy: “Never lay your hands hastily upon any man; neither be a sharer in the sins of others; preserve yourself chaste.” (1 Tim. 5:22) If Timothy failed to make sure that the one appointed was really measuring up to the Scriptural requirements, he would bear a certain accountability for any wrongs that the unqualified man might commit. The same holds true today. So why not wait humbly and patiently until such time as others can see your fine works? Remember, just as wrongs eventually come to light, so, too, fine works will not remain hidden. The apostle Paul pointed this out to Timothy when he wrote: “The sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgment, but as for other men their sins also become manifest later. In the same way also the fine works are publicly manifest and those that are otherwise cannot be kept hid.”​—1 Tim. 5:24, 25.

17. What attitude of the prophet Micah should we seek to cultivate, and in what areas of life should we want to be patient?

¹⁷ Really, in all areas of life, we should want to heed the Scriptural encouragement, “wait for Jehovah from now on and to time indefinite.” (Ps. 131:3) Let us not become impatient because God’s great day for executing judgment has not yet arrived. Instead, we should want to voice the kind of confidence that Micah expressed: “It is for Jehovah that I shall keep on the lookout. I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” (Mic. 7:7) Moreover, may we continue to show patience toward all, forgiving their minor transgressions against us and taking into consideration their limitations and circumstances. Yes, may we never allow impatience, coupled with pride, to jeopardize our relationship with our patient God, Jehovah.

[Picture on page 88]

Jesus set the perfect example in being patient, putting up with his apostles’ faults, even illustrating lessons he wanted them to learn