It's Patience Stupid!

James Carville used to say, "It's the economy stupid." No. It's patience. A lesson we need to learn through our nation's economic crisis is patience. "Love is patient." (1 Corinthians 13:4) A fruit of the Spirit is "patience." (Galatians 5:22) Some of the worst financial decisions we make are due to a lack patience. We either allow ourselves to be pressured to make purchasing decisions we shouldn't by sale's people who lack patience. We lack the patience to wait to buy an item until we can afford it. We make bad investments because we are lured by the hope of quick wealth. We lack the patience to trust God's timing for His progress to be made in our lives. We lack patience. Proverbs 13:11 states, "Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it." (NRSV) Because of this we have developed a credit economy which has been unsustainable. Like Abraham we take Sarah's handmaid and try to fulfill God's promise in our own strength and wisdom. "Let's just get on with it and make God's plan happen," we say to ourselves. The results make life more difficult to live with.

I know that in my life I need to increase in patience. Patience is a product of love. Lord, please increase my patience.