Publication date
3/15/15
Volume
36
Number
6
The WatchTower
Patient Endurance the Final Test
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1915/6/1915-6-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXXVI 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
MARCH 
15, 
1915 
PATIENT 
ENDURANCE 
THE 
FINAL 
TEST 
No.6 
"Let 
patience 
have 
her 
perfect 
work, 
that 
ye 
may 
be 
perfect 
and 
entire, 
'Wanting 
nothing."--James 
1 
:4. 
The 
Scriptures 
everywhere 
represent 
patience 
as 
an 
impor- 
part 
of 
divine 
wisdom 
longer 
to 
exercise 
patience 
with 
such. 
tant 
element 
of 
character. 
In 
every 
phase 
of 
human 
experi- 
Likewise 
also. 
in 
our 
llealings 
with 
ourselves 
and 
others, 
there 
cnce 
we 
can 
see 
its 
need. 
To 
be 
just 
under 
present 
conditions, 
i8 
a 
limit 
to 
the 
prop"r 
exercise 
of 
patielH'c-!ongsull'ering. 
\Ve 
one 
must 
be 
patient, 
not 
rash; 
for 
it 
would 
be 
injurious 
to 
be 
should 
not 
be 
patient 
with 
oursclves 
beyond 
a 
certain 
point. 
impatient 
and 
severe 
with 
the 
unavoidable 
imperfections 
and 
There 
are 
eircumstances 
in 
which 
we 
would 
properly 
feel 
that 
weaknesses 
of 
our 
fellowmcn. 
Therefore 
the 
spirit 
of 
a 
sound 
we 
should 
have 
known 
better 
and 
should 
have 
done 
better 
than 
mind 
demands 
that 
we 
be 
patient 
in 
dealing 
with 
fallen 
human- 
we 
did. 
ity. 
God 
himself 
possesses 
this 
quality 
of 
patience, 
and 
has 
LET 
US 
JUDGE 
OURSELVES 
long 
exercised 
it. 
In 
dealing 
with 
the 
world 
in 
the 
next 
age 
If 
a 
child 
of 
God 
realize8 
that 
he 
has 
bcen 
derelict 
with 
the 
church 
will 
need 
to 
have 
much 
patience, 
and 
under 
our 
himself, 
he 
should 
say, 
I 
will 
not 
be 
patient 
with 
myself 
any 
present 
environment;, 
we 
need 
it 
constantlv 
in 
order 
to 
develop 
further. 
I 
will 
take 
myself 
in 
hand 
and 
conquer 
this 
weakness 
the 
character 
necessary 
for 
a 
place 
on 
the 
throne 
with 
our 
Lord. 
which 
I 
have 
permitted 
in 
a 
measure 
to 
assert 
itself 
to 
the 
Patience 
is 
closely 
allicd 
to 
love 
and 
mercy. 
If 
God 
were 
weakening 
of 
my 
own 
charactcr 
,1lId 
probably 
to 
the 
discomfort 
unloving. 
unmerciful, 
he 
would 
be 
without 
patience. 
In 
man's 
and 
pain 
of 
others. 
I 
cannot 
do 
this 
in 
Illy 
own 
unaided 
present 
blemished, 
fallen 
condition, 
paticnce 
is 
sadly 
lacking, 
strength. 
but 
by 
the 
gracc 
of 
thc 
Lord 
I 
am 
determined 
to 
over- 
although 
it 
is 
often 
exercised 
outwardly 
for 
policy's 
sake. 
This 
come 
in 
this 
matter. 
Godlike 
quality. 
like 
all 
the 
other 
qualities 
of 
character 
inhe- 
Parents 
require 
much 
patience, 
forbearance. 
in 
dealing 
with 
rent 
in 
God 
anll 
in 
all 
perfect 
beings 
created 
in 
his 
likeness, 
has 
their 
children. 
The 
limit 
of 
patience 
might 
<lifIer 
in 
regard 
to 
been 
largely 
obliterated 
in 
humanity 
by 
the 
fall 
of 
the 
first 
different 
children. 
Therefore 
the 
wise 
parent 
will 
judge 
how 
pair. 
nearly 
each 
child 
has 
been 
doing 
the 
right 
thing. 
and 
how 
well 
In 
the 
New 
TC8tamcnt 
there 
are 
two 
Greek 
words 
trans· 
each 
has 
received 
and 
profited 
by 
instruction. 
If 
he 
finds 
that 
lated 
patienee. 
One 
of 
these 
words 
signifies 
forbearance, 
long· 
any 
child 
of 
his 
is 
wilfully 
doing 
wrong, 
he 
should 
not 
continue 
suffering. 
The 
oj 
her 
carries 
the 
thought 
of 
cheerful 
or 
hopeful 
to 
be 
patient, 
but 
should 
administer 
the 
rod. 
This 
would 
not 
endurance. 
The 
latter 
is 
the 
word 
used 
in 
our 
text, 
and 
has 
a 
mean 
that 
the 
parent 
had 
ceased 
to 
be 
patient. 
He 
might 
have 
much 
deeper 
significance 
than 
attaches 
ordinarily 
to 
our 
word 
patience 
the 
next 
day 
with 
the 
same 
ehil,I. 
and 
suhsequently 
patience. 
This 
constancy-the 
endurance 
of 
evil 
in 
a 
cheerful, 
the 
application 
of 
the 
rod 
might 
come 
again. 
\Ve 
are 
rather 
willing 
manner-represents 
an 
elpment 
of 
character, 
and 
not 
to 
be 
too 
patient, 
too 
sympathetic, 
than 
to 
have 
too 
little 
pa­ 
merely 
a 
temporary 
restraint 
of 
feeling 
or 
of 
action. 
It 
signi- 
tience, 
too 
little 
sympathy. 
Remembering 
our 
own 
weaknesses, 
fies 
a 
development 
of 
heart 
and 
character 
which 
manifests 
itself 
we 
are 
to 
exercise 
patience 
toward 
others 
who 
arc 
seeking 
to 
in 
an 
enduranee 
of 
wrong 
or 
affliction 
with 
contentment, 
with- 
overcome 
their 
imperfections, 
even 
as 
we 
are 
seeking 
to 
over­ 
out 
rebellion 
of 
will, 
with 
full 
acquiescence 
in 
the 
requirement 
come 
our 
own. 
\Ve 
all 
need 
that 
patipnce, 
foruearalH'l', 
hI' 
pxpr­ 
of 
divine 
wisdom 
anll 
love. 
whieh, 
while 
permitting 
present 
cised 
toward 
us. 
evils 
has 
promised 
in 
due 
time 
to 
overthrow 
them. 
OUR 
LORD'S 
LESSONS 
ON 
PATIENT 
ENDURANCE 
It 
will 
surely 
be 
profitable 
for 
us 
to 
cultivate 
carefully 
tbis 
element 
of 
Christian 
character 
of 
which 
our 
Lord 
speaks 
in 
Recurring 
to 
the 
word 
patience 
as 
used 
in 
our 
text, 
let 
us 
such 
high 
commendation, 
and 
without 
which. 
his 
Word 
assures 
glance 
backward 
to 
our 
Lord's 
Parable 
of 
the 
Sowpr. 
as 
n'- 
us, 
our 
character 
cannot 
be 
perfected. 
The 
Christian 
requires 
corded 
in 
Luke 
8. 
In 
verse 
15 
we 
read. 
"That 
on 
the 
good 
patient 
endurance 
to 
put 
on 
the 
whole 
armor 
of 
God, 
and 
hav- 
ground 
are 
they, 
which 
in 
an 
honest 
and 
good 
heart 
having 
ing 
put 
it 
on, 
to 
keep 
it 
securely 
buckled. 
We 
need 
it 
in 
deal. 
heard 
the 
Word, 
keep 
it, 
and 
bring 
forth 
fruit 
with 
patience." 
ing 
not 
only 
with 
others, 
but 
also 
with 
ourselves, 
with 
our 
own 
patient 
endurance, 
constancy. 
The 
thought 
here 
is 
that 
to 
be 
blemishes. 
We 
should 
always 
take 
into 
account 
the 
various 
of 
the 
fruit-bearing 
class 
which 
the 
Lord 
will 
approve 
and 
ac­ 
circumstances 
and 
conditions 
surrounding 
ourselves 
and 
others. 
cept 
in 
his 
kingdom 
we 
must 
do 
more 
than 
to 
receive 
the 
\Vord 
As 
we 
look 
around, 
we 
see 
that 
the 
world 
is 
in 
a 
condition 
of 
of 
his 
testimony, 
even 
though 
we 
receive 
it 
with 
joy. 
It 
means 
blight. 
of 
sin. 
This 
knowledge 
should 
give 
us 
great 
sympathy 
more; 
for 
the 
stony 
ground 
class 
at 
first 
thus 
received 
it. 
For 
wi,th 
humanity, 
without 
which 
we 
would 
have 
but 
little 
pa. 
a 
brief 
time 
these 
seemed 
to 
give 
evidence 
of 
fruitfulness 
and 
tience. 
All 
of 
our 
brethren 
in 
Christ, 
like 
ourselves, 
are 
by 
vigor; 
but 
when 
the 
hot 
sun 
of 
persecution 
arose, 
they 
with- 
nature 
members 
of 
this 
fallen 
human 
race. 
Therefore 
we 
should 
ered 
away, 
because 
of 
lack 
of 
depth 
of 
soil. 
have 
a 
great 
deal 
of 
patient 
endurance 
with 
the 
Lord's 
people, 
In 
this 
parable 
the 
Lord 
shows 
that 
patient 
endurance. 
con- 
as 
we 
would 
have 
them 
exercise 
this 
grace 
toward 
us. 
stancy, 
is 
the 
final 
test 
of 
character. 
It 
follows 
after 
the 
re· 
ceiving 
and 
the 
sprouting 
of 
the 
seed; 
it 
follows 
after 
love, 
THE 
PATIENCE 
OF 
GOD 
hope, 
joy 
and 
faith 
have 
caused 
the 
seed 
to 
spring 
forth 
and 
As 
the 
quality 
of 
justice 
will 
always 
persist, 
so 
will 
the 
begin 
to 
bear 
fruit. 
Patient 
endurance, 
then, 
is 
necessary 
in 
quality 
of 
patience, 
though 
not 
in 
the 
sense 
of 
patient 
endur- 
order 
that 
the 
fruit 
may 
be 
developed 
and 
thoroughly 
ripened, 
Rnee 
of 
evil. 
God 
patiently 
works 
out 
his 
own 
glorious 
designs, 
that 
the 
grain 
may 
be 
made 
ready 
for 
the 
garner. 
Ah, 
how 
im- 
in 
perfect 
cquipoise 
of 
mind. 
At 
present 
this 
requires 
the 
exer· 
portant 
this 
grace 
is 
seen 
to 
be, 
in 
the 
light 
of 
God's 
Word! 
eise 
of 
patient 
endurance 
with 
evil, 
sinful 
conditions; 
and 
in 
But 
remember 
that 
the 
endurance 
must 
be 
cheerful. 
\Ve 
can­ 
the 
ages 
of 
glory 
to 
come 
God 
will, 
we 
believe, 
still 
work 
out 
not 
suppose 
that 
he 
who 
judges 
the 
thoughts 
and 
intents 
of 
his 
purposes 
in 
perfect 
patience, 
probably 
in 
worlds 
yet 
unin- 
the 
heart 
would 
be 
pleased 
with 
his 
children, 
even 
when 
he 
saw 
habited. 
them 
bearing 
much 
for 
his 
sake, 
if 
they 
endured 
it 
in 
an 
im- 
But 
in 
the 
exercise 
of 
patience 
under 
present 
evil 
condi- 
patient 
or 
dissatisfied 
or 
unhappy 
frame 
of 
mind. 
tions. 
wisdom 
must 
have 
a 
voice. 
God 
has 
declared 
that 
in 
his 
Those 
who 
thus 
endure 
surely 
would 
not 
be 
copies 
of 
God's 
wisdom 
the 
time 
will 
come 
when 
he 
will 
cease 
to 
exercise 
pa- 
dear 
Son, 
whose 
sentiment 
found 
expression 
in 
the 
words, 
"I 
tience 
toward 
the 
world. 
That 
is 
to 
say, 
he 
will 
no 
longer 
bear 
delight 
to 
do 
thy 
will, 
0 
my 
God!" 
All 
of 
the 
royal 
priesthood 
with 
the 
world 
in 
their 
present 
sinful, 
imperfect 
condition. 
are 
sacrificers, 
as 
was 
our 
great 
Chief 
Priest; 
and 
God 
who 
ac- 
That 
time 
has 
almost 
arrived. 
The 
great 
cataclysm 
of 
trouble, 
cepts 
our 
sacrifices 
through 
the 
merit 
of 
our 
dear 
Redeemer, 
now 
about 
due, 
will 
sweep 
away 
the 
entire 
present 
order 
pre- 
informs 
us 
that 
he 
loves 
a 
cheerful 
giver-one 
who 
performs 
his 
para 
tory 
to 
the 
establishment 
of 
the 
kingdom 
of 
God 
under 
the 
sacrifices 
gladly, 
with 
a 
willing 
heart. 
This 
does 
not 
mean 
that 
whole 
heavens. 
Then 
God 
will 
give 
men 
the 
fullest 
opportu- 
our 
bodies 
will 
never 
grow 
weary; 
but 
that 
our 
spirit 
will 
re- 
nity 
of 
coming 
into 
harmony 
with 
himself 
and 
righteousness 
joice 
in 
the 
privilege 
of 
suffering 
weariness 
of 
the 
flesh 
in 
so 
before 
he 
will 
deal 
with 
them 
summarily. 
noble 
and 
wonderful 
a 
service. 
But 
if 
our 
Father 
should 
see 
The 
time 
is 
coming 
when 
there 
will 
be 
no 
more 
sin. 
God 
best 
to 
lay 
us 
aside 
from 
active 
work 
for 
a 
time, 
when 
our 
will 
have 
a 
clean 
universe 
by 
and 
by. 
But 
he 
will 
first 
give 
hearts 
are 
longing 
to 
serve, 
this 
too 
will 
be 
an 
opportunity 
to 
everybody 
an 
opportunity 
to 
rise 
out 
of 
sin. 
If 
they 
will 
not 
endure 
cheerfully 
his 
will 
for 
us. 
It 
may 
also 
be 
a 
test 
of 
our 
avail 
themselves 
of 
the 
opportunity, 
then 
God's 
patience, 
long- 
full 
submission 
of 
our 
wills 
to 
his, 
and 
thus 
be 
an 
important 
suffering, 
will 
cease 
to 
be 
operative 
toward 
such. 
This 
will 
not 
stepping-stone 
upward 
toward 
the 
kingdom 
glories 
and 
privi- 
mean 
that 
God's 
patience 
has 
ceased, 
but 
that 
its 
activity 
has 
leges. 
ceased 
in 
that 
direction. 
The 
other 
instance 
in 
which 
the 
Lord 
used 
this 
word 
pa· 
God's 
patience 
has 
arranged 
the 
thousand 
years 
of 
Mes- 
tience, 
or 
patient 
endurance, 
is 
recorded 
in 
Luke 
21: 
19. 
He 
siah's 
reign 
for 
man's 
blessing, 
and 
his 
wisdom 
has 
decided 
had 
just 
been 
telling 
his 
followers 
that 
they 
must 
expect 
tribu­ 
that 
those 
thousand 
veal'S 
will 
be 
sufficient 
for 
the 
elimination 
lations 
as 
the 
result 
of 
being 
his 
disciples 
during 
the 
present 
of 
evil. 
Whoever 
wiil 
not 
learn 
to 
live 
righteously 
under 
those 
time, 
when 
sin 
abounds, 
when 
Satan 
is 
the 
prince 
of 
this 
world. 
favorable 
conditions 
would 
never 
learn, 
and 
it 
would 
not 
be 
the 
They 
must 
expect 
opposition 
from 
various 
quarters; 
but 
he 
as- 
(83-84) 
[5650] 
Vou. XXXVI BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH 15, 1915 No. 6 PATIENT ENDURANCE THE FINAL. TEST “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”—James 1:4. The Scriptures everywhere represent patience as an important element of character. In every phase of human experience we can see its need. To be just under present conditions, one must be patient, not rash; for it would be injurious to be impatient and severe with the unavoidable imperfections and weaknesses of our fellowmen. Therefore the spirit of a sound mind demands that we be patient in dealing with fallen humanity. God himself possesses this quality of patience, and has long exercised it. In dealing with the world in the next age the church will need to have much patience, and under our present environments we need it constantly in order to develop the character necessary for a place on the throne with our Lord. Patience is closely allied to love and mercy. If God were unloving. unmerciful, he would be without patience. In man’s present blemished, fallen condition, patience is sadly lacking, although it is often exercised outwardly for policy’s sake. This Godlike quality, like all the other qualities of character inherent in God and in all perfect beings created in his likeness, has been largely obliterated in humanity by the fall of the first pair. In the New Testament there are two Greek words translated patience. One of these words signifies forbearance, longsuffering. The other carries the thought of cheerful or hopeful endurance, The latter is the word used in our text, and has a much deeper significance than attaches ordinarily to our word patience. This constancy—the endurance of evil in a cheerful, willing manner—represents an element of character, and not merely a temporary restraint of feeling or of action. It signifies a development of heart and character which manifests itself in an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment, without rebellion of will, with full acquiescence in the requirement of divine wisdom and love, which, while permitting present evils has promised in due time to overthrow them. It will surely be profitable for us to cultivate carefully this element of Christian character of which our Lord speaks in such high commendation, and without which, his Word assures us, our character cannot be perfected. The Christian requires patient endurance to put on the whole armor of God, and having put it on, to keep it securely buckled. We need it in dealing not only with others, but also with ourselves, with our own blemishes, We should always take into account the various circumstances and conditions surrounding ourselves and others. As we look around, we see that the world is in a condition of blight. of sin. This knowledge should give us great sympathy with humanity, without which we would have but little patience. All of our brethren in Christ, like ourselves, are by nature members of this fallen human race. Therefore we should have a great deal of patient endurance with the Lord’s people, as we would have them exercise this grace toward us. THE PATIENCE OF GOD As the quality of justice will always persist, so will the quality of patience, though not in the sense of patient endurance of evil. God patiently works out his own glorious designs, in perfect equipoise of mind. At present this requires the exercise of patient endurance with evil, sinful conditions; and in the ages of glory to come God will, we believe, still work out his purposes in perfect patience, probably in worlds yet uninhabited. But in the exercise of patience under present evil conditions, wisdom must have a voice. God has declared that in his wisdom the time will come when he will cease to exercise patience toward the world. That is to say, he will no longer bear with the world in their present sinful, imperfect condition. That time has almost arrived. The great cataclysm of trouble, now about due, will sweep away the entire present order preparatory to the establishment of the kingdom of God under the whole heavens. Then God will give men the fullest opportunity of coming into harmony with himself and righteousness before he will deal with them summarily. The time is coming when there will be no more sin. God will have a clean universe by and by. But he will first give everybody an opportunity to rise out of sin. If they will not avail themselves of the opportunity, then God’s patience, longsuffering, will cease to be operative toward such. This will not mean that God’s patience has ceased, but that its activity has ceased in that direction. God’s patience has arranged the thousand years of Messiah’s reign for man’s blessing, and his wisdom has decided that those thousand years will be sufficient for the elimination of evil. Whoever will not learn to live righteously under those favorable conditions would never learn, and it would not be the (83-84) part of divine wisdom longer to exercise patience with such, Likewise also, in our dealings with ourselves and others, there is a limit to the proper exercise of patience—longsutfering. We should not be patient with ourselves beyond a certain point. There are circumstances in which we would properly feel that we should have known better and should have done better than we did. LET US JUDGE OURSELVES If a child of God realizes that he has been derelict with himself, he should say, I will not be patient with myself any further. I will take myself in hand and conquer this weakness which I have permitted in a measure to assert itself to the weakening of my own character and probably to the discomfort and pain of others. JI cannot do this in my own unaided strength, but by the grace of the Lord I am determined to overcome in this matter. Parents require much patience, forbearance, in dealing with their children. The limit of patience might differ in regard to different children. Therefore the wise parent will judge how nearly each child has been doing the right thing. and how well each has received and profited by instruction. If he finds that any child of his is wilfully doing wrong, he should not continue to be patient, but should administer the rod, This would not mean that the parent had ceased to be patient. He might have patience the next day with the same child. and subsequently the application of the rod might come again. We are rather to be too patient, too sympathetic, than to have too little patience, too little sympathy. Remembering our own weaknesses, we are to exercise patience toward others who are seeking to overcome their imperfections, even as we are seeking to overcome our own. We all need that patience, forbearance, be exercised toward us. OUR LORD’S LESSONS ON PATIENT ENDURANCE Recurring to the word patience as used in our text, let us glance backward to our Lord’s Parable of the Sower. as recorded in Luke 8. In verse 15 we read. “That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience,” patient endurance, constancy. The thought here is that to be of the fruit-bearing class which the Lord will approve and accept in his kingdom we must do more than to receive the Word of his testimony, even though we receive it with joy. It means more; for the stony ground class at first thus received it. For a brief time these seemed to give evidence of fruitfulness and vigor; but when the hot sun of persecution arose, they withered away, because of lack of depth of soil, In this parable the Lord shows that patient endurance, constancy, is the final test of character. It follows after the receiving and the sprouting of the seed; it follows after love, hope, joy and faith have caused the seed to spring forth and begin to bear fruit. Patient endurance, then, is necessary in order that the fruit may be developed and thoroughly ripened, that the grain may be made ready for the garner. Ah, how important this grace is seen to be, in the light of God’s Word! But remember that the endurance must be cheerful. We cannot suppose that he who judges the thoughts and intents of the heart would be pleased with his children, even when he saw them bearing much for his sake, if they endured it in an impatient or dissatisfied or unhappy frame of mind. Those who thus endure surely would not be copies of God’s dear Son, whose sentiment found expression in the words, “I delight to do thy will, O my God!” All of the royal priesthood are sacrificers, as was our great Chief Priest; and God who accepts our sacrifices through the merit of our dear Redeemer, informs us that he loves a cheerful giver—one who performs his sacrifices gladly, with a willing heart. This does not mean that our bodies will never grow weary; but that our spirit will rejoice in the privilege of suffering weariness of the flesh in so noble and wonderful a service. But if our Father should see best to lay us aside from active work for a time, when our hearts are Jonging to serve, this too will be an opportunity to endure cheerfully his will for us. It may also be a test of our full submission of our wills to his, and thus be an important stepping-stone upward toward the kingdom glories and privileges. The other instance in which the Lord used this word patience, or patient endurance, is recorded in Luke 21:19. He had just been telling his followerg that they must expect tribulations as the result of being his disciples during the present time, when sin abounds, when Satan is the prince of this world. They must expect opposition from various quarters; but he as [5650]

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