LEADERS ARE PATIENTMoses lost his patience in leadership, and angrily “struck the rock”
rather than speaking to it by faith as God had instructed him so that it
would bring forth water (Num. 20:2-12). Paul lost his patience with the
immaturity and instability of young John Mark. It is in the crucible of
human relationships that a leader’s heart is tried – and patience is purified.
In the final analysis, Paul learned that patience – like all other lasting
virtues - is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It was not
something that he could have through natural endowment – but only by
supernatural enduement! It usually takes time – and often tribulation – to
produce patience in our lives (Rom. 5:3; KJV). One of the greatest places
to have both mature in your life is in the university of the wilderness! That’s
where leaders that last are built. God reminds us:
- “I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge
away your dross and remove all your impurities” (Isa. 1:25). - “See, I have refi ned you...I have tested you in the furnace of
affl iction. For My own sake, for My own sake I do this” (Isa.
48:10-11). - “I will refi ne them like silver and test them like gold” (Zech.
13:9). - “He will be like a refi ner’s fi re or a launderer’s soap. He will sit
as a refi ner and purifi er of silver; He will purify the Levites and
refi ne them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men
who will bring offerings in righteousness...” (Mal. 3:2-4). - “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you
may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have
come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which
perishes even though refi ned by fi re – may be proved genuine
and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ
is revealed” (I Pet. 1:6-7).
God is vitally interested in working
patience in the life and leadership of the
people that He uses. Patience is “leadership
gold and silver” that can only be purged
of self and purified of the flesh in the