Patience is the ability to wait for someone or something without becoming agitated or frustrated. It’s a calm, self-controlled attitude that isn’t instinctively present at birth but rather develops over time, especially through challenges and adversity. The apostle James teaches that patience grows in the midst of trials and hardships
James 1:2-4, says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing.”
A patient person reaps many benefits: reduced stress, greater perseverance, improved problem-solving skills, and healthier relationships. In contrast, impatience often leads to restlessness, irritability, and rushed decisions without proper thought.
When it comes to finances, patience plays a crucial role in making wise financial decisions, avoiding costly mistakes, and preventing the burden of debt. Patience helps us delay gratification and trust God to meet our needs, while also teaching us to manage our money in a way that allows us to grow our savings over time and make big purchases without relying on debt.
Patience to Delay Gratification
It’s no secret that waiting for something you really want can be frustrating. Whether you’re saving for a special vacation, a new car, your first home, a new outfit, or the latest gadget, delaying that immediate gratification isn’t easy. However, the benefits of saving and waiting are substantial.
- Avoiding Debt: By saving for an item instead of charging it, you avoid the stress of debt that can take months or even years to pay off, often with interest.
- Increased Satisfaction: The anticipation of waiting often heightens your satisfaction when you finally make the purchase, and the joy of avoiding debt adds to that satisfaction.
- Better Deals: Waiting gives you the time to research the best deals, potentially finding better prices or discovering a product that better meets your needs.
As Solomon wisely observed in Proverbs 22:7, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the lender.” Patience helps you avoid this type of financial bondage.
Patience to Accumulate Wealth Over Time
One of the best financial strategies is to start saving small amounts early, allowing your investments to grow over time. Consider this: If you begin saving $25 a month at age 25 into an annuity paying 3% interest, by the time you turn 65, your $12,000 investment will grow to $23,209. It’s not hard to save $25 a month—just skip one dinner or two lunches out each month, and you’ll be able to invest that money. If you increase it to $25 a week, your balance would grow to $100,547.
This principle is found in Proverbs 13:11, “Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Trying to get rich quickly can often lead to risky, costly mistakes. Some people resort to gambling or high-risk investments that promise large returns. However, gambling can lead to addiction and financial ruin, and get-rich-quick schemes often end in loss. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that Americans lost more than $8 billion in 2023 to risky investments and scams, and nearly $117 billion was lost to gambling.
Patience to Wait on God
Patience is also about waiting on God’s timing. It’s about trusting that He will fulfill His promises, even when it seems like our prayers go unanswered. Patience allows us to stay faithful, even when we feel overwhelmed by financial difficulties. God has promised to meet all our needs, and He is faithful to His word.
In Philippians 4:19, Paul expressed his confidence that God would provide for the needs of the Philippians: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Despite the trials Paul faced, he had learned to be content, knowing that God would meet his every need. Patience and faithfulness during trials helped Paul grow in his trust in God’s provision.
When we wait on God, we develop patience and maturity, learning that God’s timing is perfect. Even when waiting feels difficult, remember that the trials we endure can build perseverance, and perseverance leads to maturity in our faith.
A Reflective Question for Your Heart
As you reflect on your relationship with money, consider the following:
- Have you made financial decisions in the past that might have turned out better if you had been more patient?
- Can you recall instances where God rewarded your patience with a better outcome than you expected?
Take a moment to think about these questions, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Let this be an opportunity to invite God’s peace and patience into your financial journey.
Susan's Reflections 
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