"Hurry Up and Wait!"
A sermon based upon Luke 15: 1-10
A sermon based upon Luke 15: 1-10
By Charles J. Tomlin
Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership
September 12, 2010, Proper 19C
Today’s text from Luke opens with religious leaders losing their patience with Jesus because Jesus displays too much patience with sinners (15.2).
In response, Jesus shares 3 stories to illustrate divine patience in some very human situations during biblical times. We know these stories as the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. In each story, having patience with sinners is taught from three different angles, with the stakes becoming higher each time.
Take a look at how patience is taught in each story. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd is patient enough to leave 99 sheep and go after the one. In the second story, the woman is patient enough to turn her whole house upside down to find one single coin. And finally, in the last parable, which is outside of today’s reading, but is the one story we relate to most, it is the unusually “patient” Father who is “waits” on the prodigal to come home.
Each of these very dramatic, unforgettable stories, serve as pointers toward the patience of God with sinners, which is one of the most important teachings found in the Hebrew Bible. We encounter this saying twice. The first time is right after the writing of the 10 commandments, in Exodus 34: 6-7, where Moses worships God saying: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." 8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. (Exo 34:6-8 NKJ). The theme reoccurs again in Nehemiah 9:17 with the renewal of the law. In both instances patience; the ability to be “slow to anger” flows out of “steadfast love.” This responds directly with Paul’s own understanding that “patience” follows the fruit of love.
PATIENCE IS BEARING EMOTIONAL PAIN FOR ANOTHER
When we encounter divine “patience” as the ability to be “slow to anger” or “longsuffering”, we discover that the act of patience flows directly out of God’s character. God’s patience points directly from who God is as “merciful, gracious,” etc. In the same way, our own ability or inability to have patience points directly to who we are.
Think also about how our character develops as our personhood develops. Babies don’t have much patience, but as they grow in understanding, trust and maturity, patience also grows as they don’t have to cry and scream at everything that does not go their way. This word “longsuffering” is a very good word understanding what it means to “grow” in patience. To “suffer-long,” means that someone bears the emotional burden of not getting what they want, or they or they take upon themselves the personal pain of being with another person who does not relate to them as they should. This whole idea of taking being able to bear or take “suffering” upon ourselves is crucial in understanding patience. When God is patient with us, the prevailing biblical image is that God ‘bears our sin’ upon himself (as Jesus does on the cross). When we are patient with others, we also bear their failures, faults, and flaws. When we “bear another person’s stuff,” we participate in the divine activity of redemption and reconciliation.
Isn’t this how all of life works, on both the physical, emotional and the spiritual levels? Until you teach and train your body to “suffer” some pain, discomfort, or endure some level of struggle, you can’t make any advancement, gain any benefits. Stronger muscles grow because we push our muscles to their limit, then we let them rest and repeat the process until they become stronger through the “pain and suffering” we make them go through. When we want to buy something outside our budget, we have to suffer the pain of “not spending”, or even doing without something, so that we can save the money to buy the desired item we want. In this way we delay “gratification” (as psychology says) or we accept a little pain or less comfort now, so we can have something we want later.
In much the same way, when we want to build our social or business skills, we have to endure and suffer to be patient with people, even with people we don’t like. I’ll never forget my Father teaching me to always have patience with the customer. You know the slogan, “the customer is always right.” Sometimes this slogan makes no sense and it is totally wrong, but you have to teach and train your mind to automatically think this way and to detach yourself from your own emotions, so that when your customer loses their cool, you don’t lose yours. Then hopefully, things will work out and you won’t lose both your cool and your customer.
In each of these parables, we see can see clearly what Jesus is trying to encourage the Pharisees and his disciples to participate in God’s saving work in the world. If we are going see lost sheep rescued, have lost coins found, and see lost children come home, we’ve also got participate in the pain that is “out-there” and we’ve also got to be able to accept some discomfort within ourselves. We have to develop a kind of ‘evangelistic patience’ to bear the pain of risks, of keeping focus and maintaining energy, and we must learn how to pray and to wait on God. This is not easy. It sometimes means some suffering, and it sometimes means “long suffering.”
HAVING PATIENCE MEANS DEALING WITH OUR OWN STUFF
However you finally come to define “patience,” it most always implies some form of suffering with or for another. But now the question comes: how are we able to bear the pain of another when life can be so painful for us already? Whereas God can “suffer” for us because he has no pain of his own, we don’t have that kind of luxury. We not only have to “deal” with the “pain” others can cause us, we also have to deal with our own “pain” that comes in life; very often due to no fault of our own. In order to have patience with others, somehow we have to find a way to cope with our own pain and hurts.
We can see this need to deal with our own “stuff” first, as we read between the lines in each of the “hero’s” of Jesus’ stories. Each one had to work through certain types of “suffering” before they could take on the “pain” of the other. The Shepherd, in order to risk himself for the lost Sheep, has to deal with his own fear of death, or his fear of losing all other sheep. The woman has to deal with her own loss of time, money and effort, which was probably worth far more than one single coin. We can most clearly see the “loss” and “pain” in this Father, who not only had one son who took half of his money and lost it, putting the whole family at risk, but he also had another Son who brought him all kind’s grief and pain because this “elder” son had no “heart.” (Who would want this elder son taking care of you in your old age?) What we must not miss is that in order to have patience to deal with any of these “lost” things, there had to be risk taken, effort made, and of course, the acceptance of various forms of personal pain and suffering.
How can we develop patience, when we all have our own stuff to deal with? It may seem unlikely, but most people do develop some level of patience in their lives, and amazingly you often discover that people with the most pain develop the most patience. How does that happen? One thing for sure, you don’t develop patience simply by just wanting it. Patience is not simply something you can put on your shopping list. Patience is something you gain as you develop it as a gift of God, as you character grows, and as you give more and more of yourself to God.
Think of it this way, if you don’t already have love, joy and peace in your hearts, patience will not grow. If you don’t want to become a kinder, better, more faithful person, gentile, disciplined person, you’ll keep struggling to be patient with anyone, including yourself. Patience flows out of the love we feel, the joy we have, and the peace we desire with God and others. When you are willing to take up your cross and suffer for the sake of the greater good, for the sake of another, for your growth in faith and character, then patience becomes possible.
Several years ago, when a Church wanted to reach out to troubled children in the city, it already had workers with hearts wanting to take on this challenge. They were taking a Bus into the city and picking up these children. While it was one thing to “want” to reach out, it was another thing to actually have to deal with these children who could, at times be very rude, crude, even cruel to the other kids, especially our own “church” kids. At first, as we launched the ministry, it was a bumpy ride. Some of the “parents” became very impatient. What we had to do to work through the problem is give the parents others ways and resources of dealing with their fears and problems. One thing we did, was to move the regular children’s work to Sunday evening and we announced that the Wednesday evening work would be “missionary” work. This gave the parents an option and a way out. Interestingly, the work took off and the major problems smoothed out. We were able to move ahead, and parents had more patience with the children and with the leaders, because we gave them more resources to help them deal with their fears. They could not take upon themselves the “pain” of the other children, until they were able to resolve some of their own stuff and provide the emotional resources needed.
Patience will always be a great challenge for those have great emotional pain, struggles which have not been addressed, or who don’t have the emotional or spiritual resources in their lives. People are quick to anger, have all kinds of unresolved “stuff” lurking just below the surface, and one single matter that comes at them, unsuspected and unaware, can set them into a mode of anger and wrath.
In order grow in patience we have to resolve that which remains unresolved in our own hearts. Impatient, uncaring people always show the clearest signs they are not doing enough to care for themselves. Think of it this way. In a distressed airplane, the stewardess instructs parents to first put the oxygen mask on themselves before they put the mask on their children. We must take care of matters of our own care, so we can care for and be patient with others. Maybe the best way to say this: In order to develop more patience with others, first deal with your stuff, and then become more patient with yourself. As Jesus says, you can’t love your neighbor as yourself, until you have shown care and respect for yourself.
PATIENCE IS NOT WITHOUT LIMITS.
Another part of growing in patience comes from a different angle altogether. None of us have unlimited patience, and if we think we do, that could spell disaster. Constantly giving in to another person’s wrong, stupidity, or weakness is not what patience means. If we think it is, we are in for a rude awakening. One day our patience will run out, or we will, or they will.
When we practice patience, like God practices patience with us, there we not only develop the ability to suffer with another, but we also must become sure about where our limits and boundaries are. Having these “limits and boundaries” is one of the most important parts of growing in patience and keeping our patience. Do you see what God does? Notice again in this great text from Exodus where it says: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." (Exo 34:6-7 NKJ).
God does not have unlimited patience with us. There is a point of no return, an unpardonable sin, and there is a point where God will “give us up” and let us go. This is not just God’s way of dealing with us, but it is why God can have patience with us, because he knows that there are limits to he must do. My Father was one of the most patient person’s I’ve ever known. But I’ll never forget a warning I got from my father when I was growing up, getting my driver’s license and starting to have my own freedom. He told me that he loved me, and he’d help me any way he could and all I had to do was ask. Even if I faced big problems, all I had to do was come to him and he’d help me, if he could. But then he said this: “But, if you get in trouble at school, or with the law, and if, God forbid, that you’d ever have to go to jail for something that you did and you really did it, I want you to know this one thing and not forget it; I will not come and bail you out. You will face the consequences.
God does not have patience on sinners without limits. Remember, what Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. Jesus forgave her, did not blame her, but then he said: “Go and Sin no more.” Jesus meant this. He was giving this woman another chance. But if she blew it, she would then be on her own. He could not help her.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture comes from Galatians 6,1ff, where Paul ends his brilliant discussion on Christian Freedom. Paul begins with some final words about helping someone who falls into sin---that is being patient, bearing the pain they cause, and then trying to restore that person. He writes: Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:1-10 NIV).
Within in this reading, we see what makes patience possible, both among individuals and within a community. There is love, understanding, caring, and bearing burdens, but there must also be reasonable “limits” on all this. If the person does not “start carrying their own load”, then “God is not mocked, whatever a person sows is what a person reaps….” We be “graceful” toward others, but others must return grace for grace. If receiving grace does not make a return, this even God’s grace becomes “null and void”. God also has limits. This is part of what enables God to have patience with us. He knows how far he can go, and he can go as far as he can. We too must know, share, discuss and create “fair” and “just” limits, even on love, grace, and having patience. Having such limits does not take away from patience, but it enables it.
One of the worst things some people do with those they love is not to clearly define the boundaries, for themselves or for those they love. This can lead to all kinds of problems of dependency and dysfunction in our relationships. Healthy people, healthy families, and healthy communities don’t let just anything go. They are patient and forgiving, but even that must have limits. We all have to construct healthy boundaries and responsibilities in order for life and love to be real. Out of such boundaries, limits, and contracts in life, that we are able to build communities, relationships and lives filled with love, joy, peace and patience with God and with others.
GROWING PATIENCE COMES FROM GROWING FAITH & TRUST.
In the book of James we find one of the most wonderful pictures of learning patience, which comes by way of learning from the farmer. This image can instruct us well in our own farming communities, even if we are no longer farming ourselves.
Most of us who read the Bible regularly, realize that James is a very practical book, telling us that if our faith doesn’t have practical works behind it, it is dead. The book of James is filled with practical wisdom for living out God’s grace in the world. Near the end of the book, James is writing about a world that is filled with fights, quarrels, arguments, conflict. Most of all this, says James, stems out of people’s unwillingness to humble themselves before God. “Humble yourselves… come near to God and he will come near to you.” This is James’ recommendation at the close of the 4th chapter. Now, in his conclusion (chapter 5), James warns “wealthy” people who’ve been so busy taking care of themselves and their money, that because they have forgotten to take care of their souls that their luxury will come to an end so that they will soon find themselves like “animals fattened for the slaughter….” Again, we see how God has limits and is able to maintain his own patience and be longsuffering with us, because he is also able to let us go and suffer the consequences of our own actions.
But then, we come to the final part of the text, where James turns to those who’ve been suffering because of the injustice of the world and the wealthy, and this is what James says:
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (Jam 5:7-11 NIV) Do you know how the “Farmer” in James example learned patience? The farmer knew that he had to wait, and when he did wait, when he trusted and had faith in the land, the soil, the weather and the season, it would not finally fail him. He might have a bad year, but the good year will come.
Finally, for all of us, patience is born out of our ability to trust and have faith. When you don’t have “faith”, you can’t trust, and when don’t trust, you won’t see patience growing as a fruit of the Spirit in your life as it grows and flows out of the love, joy and peace that is already being fruitful in your life .
This week in the news, we’ve all been taken aback, by the pastor in Florida, Terry Jones, whose led his “independent” 50 member congregation to declare Saturday, the anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy, as a “National Burn the Koran Day.” I don’t know about you, but I could not help but be drawn into this story, as this “unknown” and obscure pastor took the “world by the horns” as he planned to publically “burn the Koran”. As whole world took notice and pleaded with him not to do this, not because he was wrong in his beliefs about militant Islam, but because he was putting many Americans, including our soldier’s in Afghanistan at risk, the pastor would not back down.
Again, we can appreciate his concern about militant Islam. We can appreciate his frustration about 9/11. We can also appreciate his desire to have the Mosque in New York City moved somewhere else. What we can’t appreciate, should never appreciate, if we want to remain Christian and true followers of Jesus, is that he lost all faith, not just in Islam, or in people, but he lost all faith in Jesus Christ and God’s way to save the world-- not through deeds of revenge, hate, nor aggression (which burning the Koran would have been), but through mercy, goodness, mercy and abounding love. What this “pastor” also lost was his patience, not just with Islam, but with the Savior who did not return evil for evil, but had patience and compassion to suffer-long with to overcome evil with good.
A wonderful contrasting image to this angry, impatient pastor in Florida, is Pastor Steve Stone and the HeartSong Church near Memphis. This week, while a very impatient Terry Jones was contemplating burning the Koran, members of the Islamic Center in Cordova, Tennessee, were ending Ramadan, as they worshipped in a Christian Church. Yes, you heard me right. Muslims were worshipping in a Christian Church. While their own Islamic Center was still under construction, the neighborly Christians opened their doors, as they said Jesus would have done, allowing Muslims a place to worship.
How could they do a thing like this? I like what one woman in the congregation said: “They may not have the same faith I have, but at least they have faith!” or as the pastor also said: “We think it is right to follow our Lord and love our neighbor.” Amen, sister and brother! You’re my kind of Church---still following Jesus. (As seen on NBC News with Brian Williams on 9.9.2010).
This is how patience is born in us, when we deal with our own stuff, bear the cross with Jesus, and keep trusting the Lord who gives us the farm and the opportunity to grow the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, and also patience…. Amen!
© 2010 All rights reserved Dr. Charles J. Tomlin, B.A., M.Div. D.Mi
© 2010 All rights reserved Dr. Charles J. Tomlin, B.A., M.Div. D.Mi
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