(6) God's Forbearance

The Bible reveals that in His economy God has exercised great forbearance. Immediately after the fall of man, God began to show forbearance in His dealings with man. If you read Genesis 3 from the viewpoint of forbearance, you will see how forbearing God was with fallen man. God exercised His understanding, fully realizing man's situation and need. He also exercised His wisdom to deal with fallen man. For the accomplishment of His eternal purpose, for the carrying out of His economy, God has always exercised forbearance. With His forbearance, He has understanding, wisdom, mercy, kindness, love, and grace. Even the rich supply of life is included in God's forbearance. God never commands us to do anything without considering our need and granting us His supply. If a parent charges his children to do a certain task but does not supply them with what they need, that parent is not forbearing. Forbearance always includes the adequate supply to meet the need.

The Bible reveals that God exercises forbearance in carrying out His economy. If God had dealt with fallen man in the way we deal with others, there would have been no way for Him to fulfill His purpose. But God has made His forbearance known to all men. Thus, God Himself set up an example, a pattern, of forbearance, making known His forbearance to men throughout all generations. God makes known His forbearance by dealing with us in a way that is reasonable, suitable, and considerate. God never disciplines anyone without proper consideration. He often waits a long period of time before chastising someone. If you read of Israel's journey in the wilderness, you will see that God truly was forbearing toward them. God has also been forbearing with us. He has dealt with us like a wise and loving father, full of forbearance.

In Philippians 3:15 Paul says, "Let us therefore, as many as are full-grown, have this mind." We have pointed out that to have this mind is to have the mind to live Christ and pursue Him. However, the very Christ whom we live and pursue should be expressed as forbearance. If we put together these verses from chapters three and four, we see that forbearance requires maturity. Without growth and maturity it will be extremely difficult to make known our forbearance.

In a family the parents must first be forbearing and thereby set up an example of forbearance for the children to follow. If a brother is not forbearing toward his wife and children, he should not expect his children to know what forbearance is. Instead of commanding others to be forbearing, he himself should establish a pattern of forbearance for his children to follow. As we have indicated, to have such forbearance requires maturity. (Taken from the Life-Study of Philippians, Message #58) http://ministrybooks.org/life-studies.cfm

神的謙讓宜人

聖經啟示，在神的經綸裡，祂運用了極大的謙讓宜人。人墮落以後，神立刻在對付人的事上開始顯出謙讓宜人。我們若從謙讓宜人的觀點來讀創世記三章，就會看見，神對墮落的人是何等的謙讓宜人。一面，神完全了解、知道人的處境和需要；另一面，祂也用智慧來對待墮落的人。神為要完成祂永遠的定旨，為要執行祂的經綸，祂一直是謙讓宜人的。祂的謙讓宜人還帶著了解、智慧、憐憫、恩慈、愛和恩典。甚至生命豐富的供應也包含在神的謙讓宜人裡。神從來不會命令我們作甚麼事，而不顧我們的需要，或不將祂的供應賜給我們。作父母的如果吩咐兒女作一項工作，卻不供應他們所需要的，這就不是謙讓宜人。謙讓宜人總是包括充足的供應，以應付需要。

聖經啟示，神執行祂的經綸時是謙讓宜人的。倘若神以我們對待別人的方式來對待墮落的人，祂就無法完成祂的定旨。神如今已經叫眾人知道祂的謙讓宜人。祂親自設立一個謙讓宜人的例子、榜樣，好叫歷代的人都知道祂的謙讓宜人。神以合理、合宜、且體諒我們的方式來對待我們，便叫人知道祂的謙讓宜人。神從來沒有不深思熟慮就管教人。祂常常是等候了多時纔懲治人。你讀到以色列人在曠野的旅程，就會看見神對他們真是謙讓宜人。神對我們也一直是謙讓宜人的。祂像一位智慧且慈愛的父親，滿了謙讓宜人的來對待我們。

保羅在腓立比書三章十五節說，『所以我們凡是長成的人，都要思念這事。』我們曾指出，思念這事就是思念活基督並竭力追求基督。然而，我們所活並竭力追求的基督，應當以謙讓宜人彰顯出來。我們若將三章和四章這些經節擺在一起，就會看見，謙讓宜人需要成熟。我們若不長大，也不成熟，要叫人知道我們的謙讓宜人就十分困難。

在一個家庭裡，父母必須先謙讓宜人，藉此設立榜樣，使兒女可以效法。弟兄若對妻子、兒女不謙讓宜人，他就不該奢望兒女會知道甚麼是謙讓宜人。他不該命令別人謙讓宜人，自己反該先建立謙讓宜人的榜樣，給兒女效法。正如我們所指明的，要有這樣的謙讓宜人需要成熟。(摘自『腓立比書生命讀經』第五十八篇) http://www.lsmchinese.org/