Well-Doing Requires Patient Endurance

Well-Doing Requires Patient Endurance

It is vital to re-read AND re-read the Bible again and again without being presumptuous that we already knew what was written, even after reading it many times.

The more we read, the more we find consistent connections throughout the Bible because the Scriptures cannot be broken. If our interpretation cannot be linked to another part of the whole, then it is likely incorrect.

The Scriptures, no matter how many parts are taken apart, can still be joined together as one consistent message. That is the beauty of the Word, since Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the same yesterday, today and forever.

This morning, something stood out to me as I re-read Romans.

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. - Rom 2:7-8

Well-doing requires patience. The word is actually 'patient endurance' in Greek. '𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞' appears 7 times in the book of Revelation, because it is the main theme of the book.

You don't just endure in hardships and tribulations. You also endure in doing good. Why is that so? Because it is easier NOT to do good. Impatience is the key to earning mammon in this world.

In the industry that I work in (and I believe it applies to many industries too), it is way easier to take shortcuts to get wealth. Let's face it: Many believers fall into it. And don't be naive and think that leadership (be it political, governmental or religious) is clean and has integrity, whether in Singapore or other countries, whether believers or non-believers.

I have encountered enough to learn. And my wife has reminded me a number of times, "Do not be too trusting. Be as shrewd as serpents.", as she witnessed my various encounters. But we both agree that regardless of these, we just need to endure to do what is right in the eyes of God.

If you are doing good and you find it tiring (because you are still living among the wolves and goats in this world), take heart. For your patient endurance in well-doing will be rewarded in the life to come.

We need to see the end from the beginning by perceiving what God sees. For those who seem to enjoy abundantly right now are perhaps short-sighted, because their end is near. What you and I are experiencing is truly temporal.

We have a more important life after this: To reign with Christ over new cities. You can reign in this life without patient endurance in well-doing, for 80-100 years, but being reigned over in eternity. Or you can endure patiently in well-doing now, and reign over many in eternity.

It depends on which world is more real to you. And it reveals what you really believe.