Walking Worthy: Characteristics Pt 2

We recently discussed in Bible study the fruit of the Spirit, and how fruit is singular, meaning that the characteristics listed are all inextricably connected. You don’t have the fruit of love while I have the fruit of self-control. Instead, love is joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. If I am loving someone, my love should also exhibit all the other characteristics.^[1]

At the end of study, I asked for prayer for a specific circumstance that I would show love that in particular reflected patience, kindness, and gentleness. I knew my own heart. Love is action not merely a feeling. I tend to love by doing things for others. Things that are good or show faithfulness, but my doing isn’t always characterized by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (in terms of thinking what is truly good for the other), gentleness, and self-control.

For the circumstance for which I asked for prayer, there were times that by God’s grace I showed love in the “one-fruit” way, but I also had one miserable failure. Something was said to me that I took as critical. I did not exercise self-control, so my response then lacked joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Ultimately, it wasn’t loving, and it broke unity with the other person for a short time.

Today, we will consider the remaining characteristics of walking worthy – patience, bearing with one another in love, and being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.^[2]

Ephesians 4:1-6 (emphasis added)

Patience and bearing with one another go together. Patience is long-souled, long-tempered, long-suffering, or steadfastness. It adopts a long-term view, enduring in/with difficult situations or people. God is patient towards man (2 Peter 3:9, and it is one of His attributes (Exodus 34:6).

We have many examples in Scripture of men who patiently trusted God: Abraham as he waited for God’s promise of a son. Noah as he labored for seventy years or more building the ark, trusting God that there would be rain (unknown until the flood) to destroy the earth. Moses was patient for forty years in Midian before going back to Egypt. Joseph, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Paul are additional examples of patiently trusting God’s purposes.

The definition of love includes patience (1 Corinthians 13:7, see it alongside bearing all things). We are to be patient with those who are idle, fainthearted, and weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14). In his counsel to Timothy, Paul told him to preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). Believers are to put on patience (Colossians 3:12), and it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Patience trusts God’s unseen purposes and plans without complaint. Patience should characterize walking worthy.

Walking worthy is further characterized by bearing with one another in love. In the New Testament, the Greek word for “bearing with” (anechō) is connected to enduring persecution or suffering (1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:20). So, bearing with one another in love is not only when it is easy or we like the person. We bear with one another even when it is difficult.

Bearing with another does not mean we merely tolerate others. We bear with one another in love. This is agape love. Love that is continuous, unconditional, selfless, sacrificial, good, and benevolent. It is a love that extends beyond friends to enemies and prays for one’s persecutors (Matthew 5:43-44). Bearing with one another in love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), meaning that we don’t make another’s sin unnecessarily known. We will be quick to forgive.

The fifth characteristic of walking worthy (or result of the first four) is “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (vs 3). The word translated as eager (spoudazō) has a sense of urgency. One commentator defined it as a “holy zeal that demands full dedication.” In the New Testament, it is used for being diligent, doing your best (2 Timothy 2:15), making an intense effort for a journey (1 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:9, 21; Titus 3:12), and making an earnest effort (2 Peter 1:10; 3:14).

We are to be fully dedicated to maintaining the unity created by Jesus (vs 2:11-22; 1 Corinthians 12:13) that is of the Spirit. Believers are united to each other in Christ by the Spirit. The unity itself is not any believer’s doing, but we are all called to maintain it. When we walk with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love, we will do our duty in maintaining unity. This was Jesus’ prayer, that we would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:11, 21-23). Unity is not possible when we are self-focused, prideful, not gentle, impatient, and we don’t forbear in love. These cause division not unity.

When we walk worthy, we are eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We do not pursue peace if it compromises the Gospel’s purity, but we do seek the peace of being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2). Paul continues this exhortation with the command to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than themselves, and to look not only to their own interests, but also to the interests of others. These are the characteristics of walking worthy which leads to maintaining unity.

In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul detailed attitudes and actions we are to put on, attitudes and actions that correspond with walking worthy. Then he instructs: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful” (verses 14-15). We walk worthy not as individuals doing our own thing, but as members of the body of Christ. We walk worthy together as a light in the darkness of this fallen world.

Reflection

1.    We live in an impatient culture of instant gratification. Our impatience usually leads to other sins like anger or complaint. What circumstance or relationship is a regular temptation to impatience? What other sins does it lead to? What can you plan to put on ahead of time, so you walk with patience? For example, I found myself getting angry whenever I drove because I was impatient with slow or inconsiderate drivers, red lights, or too much traffic. When I get in the car, I pray that I will put off anger and put on prayer for others. As I drive, I look for people I can pray for whether they are in a car, walking down the street, or begging on the corner.

2.    Consider how you love others. Do you bear with them in love or “love” when it is convenient and easy? If bearing with others in love means continuous, unconditional, selfless, sacrificial, good actions towards another and being quick to forgive or overlook an offense, where do you need to grow in forbearing in love? Be specific about one relationship and the actions you can take to love in the above ways.

3.    Are you eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit? How do you approach corporate worship, small groups, and fellowship with the body of Christ? Describe examples of interaction with other believers, particularly in your local church, that cultivate unity.

^[1] For a more detailed explanation, read my devotion “God Is Simple”.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 4:1–6.