A Time For Patience
By J.R. Ensey
It is very interesting to note that upon those who know the least about how to build a strong
marriage and train children, these awesome responsibilities are thrust. Too soon old;
too late smart.
Often serious mistakes are made while the children are in their formative years.
Relationships can easily become divided before a person really has a good grip on life.
Similarly, a young man who is just starting a family, learning how to change diapers and
warm bottles, sets out into the ministry to add that weight to his already heavy load.
Many are not emotionally prepared for it and crumble under the load. They are prone to
fall into financial difficulty or even immorality simply because they were in a hurry and
bunched too many of life’s tough, major decisions together.
In Exodus 23:29,30, God gave the Israelites this information concerning the conquest of Canaan:
“I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the
beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before
thee, until thou be increased and inherit the land.” Let that soak in. John the Baptist,
the prophet who stands atop the list of all prophets, didn’t start his ministry until he was
thirty years old. Jesus followed the same pattern. The Old Testament Priests were thirty
before their official duties were assumed.
Why?
Perhaps there are several answers. The most obvious one would be that by that time they were
stable enough to handle the problems, the conflicts, the criticisms or other negative aspects
of ministry. They could cope better with human nature, including their own. Their ministry
was more effective and had greater impact because they waited. That's not to say you can't preach
or be active in the ministry until you’re thirty. But it does mean that we need not get in such
a hurry to become, lest we burn out like a shooting star. There are no ninety day wonders in
God’s kingdom.
Abraham Lincoln said: “I will prepare myself and some day my time will come.”
So be patient. Learn well. Drink deep. Lay a foundation. |