The Long Game
We Americans have a problem with time. When it comes to age, we want it to slow down. When it comes to driving, we’re typically in a hurry. When it comes to our present, we’re most often looking backward to the good ol’ days or forward to the weekend. In terms of solutions to our problems, we want them much sooner than later. I have often resembled these traits.
This cultural bent has a significant impact on us Christians as we seek to live out our lives in a fallen world. Our natural impatience often impedes our obedience to make disciples because getting people converted takes much less time. Loving our enemies can seem a waste of our precious time because we think, what good will it do? Perhaps it will continue to enable them in their evil ways. Our frustrations with cultural changes often lead us to lash out because taking the time to talk to those advocating these changes is much more challenging and takes more time than a social media post.
What I’ve concluded is we are not very good at the long game. As I look back over my life, I realize that I was much of the time in a hurry to fix a wrong. Because I was angry, I would charge into the situation convinced I could solve it. However, after many failures, I realized that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to change hearts and minds and he often works on a very different schedule than I prefer.
When I read the Gospels, I do not sense that Jesus was in a hurry, yet he knew his time was short. He was patient with those who followed him and those who were his enemies. It is not coincidence that Paul’s first attribute of love is patience. It was brought to my attention one time that God waited more than 400 years to judge the Amorites for their sins. And these were people who routinely sacrificed babies to their gods! Time and time again, we see God being patient as he lays the foundations for his kingdom. This is a long game extraordinaire. And it is a long game because the Lord is seeking to persuade the hearts of humanity. That doesn’t typically happen quickly with a protest, boycott, or through passing legislation. It happens through inexplicable love, a love that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, which is not dishonoring or self-seeking, not easily angered, does not keep a record of wrongs nor delights in evil, but rather rejoices with the truth. It is a long-lasting love that is full of hope and trust, which can persevere in the midst of the most challenging of times (I Corinthians 13:4-7). A love that can open the door to persuasion.
This is the long game and if we are going to be the Lord’s instruments in bringing his kingdom to the culture, we must learn the art of playing it.
© Jim Musser 2023 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.
