The first chapter in James reminds us to be grateful
when misfortune happens or trials fall on us. It is true that God is in charge and
all knowing, but it is hard to accept the first verses in James.
We are not called to be emotionless or pretend
everything is okay. We are to be honest with God and express our true thoughts and
feelings.
The little problems are those situations where
it is easier to praise God and go to prayer. However, when bigger problems manifest
and profound hurt plagues us, it is much harder.
James reminds us it is not just the grief or misfortune
we should focus on. We need to think of what God is doing in us, that we should
be focused on God perfecting us.
James 1:4 ESV
[4] And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The kind of perfection which God wants us to have
is to be spiritual mature. This is holding on to God during all difficulties and
allowing God to work on us. It is not to be perfect in our eyes.
God wants us to be authentic. We grow through
our struggles and move slowly through our mistakes. God knows we will make mistakes
and not follow the straight path all the time, but to remain in God is important.
To strive to be closed to God is important.
Our stories are full of mistakes, pain and trials.
There are victories, but no one could claim that they always win or succeed. God
does his best work when we cannot and let God do His work.
God wants us to continue even when things are
going badly.
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
A Call to Patience
James 5:7-11
In this passage, James calls us to be patient in fact, patience is used four times in this short passage. Steadfastness is the outcome of patience.
There are three different calls to patience.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. James 5:7 ESV
Are you eagerly waiting for the Lord? James calls us to be patient as we wait. The Holy Spirit is in every one of us and gives us patience.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Many of us believe the lie that we are not patient. We have patience from the Holy Spirit, and we need to choose to be patient.
It is a blessing to wait until the coming of Lord with patience. We don't know when Jesus will return, but, like a farmer, we expect fruit to come. It is hard work and much of this depends on the weather. The rain comes when it does, yet the farmer still plants and prunes expecting good things to come.
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:2 ESV
The verse from Ecclesiastes tells us that there are different times for different activities. As a farmer, what are we planting in our lives?
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:8-9 ESV
Life is not easy or fair. We need to strengthen our hearts to make the right choices.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 ESV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. Hebrews 13:9 ESV
It is only by establish in pure hearts or strengthening them that we can make choices that please God and are not corrupted by evil.
Our nature is to grumble whenever we face any problems which are unpleasant or disagreeable to us. We like to blame others for our circumstances.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment, you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 ESV
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:10-11 ESV
Once again James calls us to patience, but this patience involved suffering. James refers to the prophets who suffered and were patient. Their steadfastness allowed God to be merciful and compassionate to them as they endured their suffering.
Jesus tells us that it is a blessing to suffer for being righteous.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 ESV
Most of us are patient with our prayer requests and Jesus second coming, but others are being patient with their persecution. Many of us cannot imagine what it means to be persecuted, yet there are many are persecuted.
