James Post #15 – James 5:7-12

In yesterday’s post we talked about being Rich in Gold and Silver, and dealt with our personal wealth and, more importantly, our attitude about it.  Todays’ theme is being Rich in Patience.   The scripture for today is James 5, verses 7 through 12.  We’ll begin as usual by asking you to pray and then read todays’ Bible passage.

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  ⁹ Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  ¹¹ As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

The first words we read today were ⁷ “Be patient and stand firm.”  Some people think that patience and inaction are one in the same.  When we are patience with a person or a situation it is a choice we make.  We have the opportunity throughout our day to be impatient and frustrated or to exhibit patience.  It is a deliberate, intentional act.  We choose to be patient.  For the believer patience is a demonstration of our belief that God is in control, that God does have the situation in hand and that God will work out the solution…but we need to stand strong and steady in our faith…waiting patiently  (Psalm 37:7-11)   Waiting is something that people don’t do well in our society. 

Just think for a few minutes about our culture.  Everything is about instant access to our friends via instant messaging, cell phones, texts, tweets, etc.  We not only can communicate with a printed message but we can send documents, pictures and even videos complete with sound.  When we wanted to purchase something in years past we would save up for it, we’d think our purchases over and even seek advice on the best way to spend our hard earned money but today it’s all about “I want it and I want it NOW!”  Debt is a huge issue with many people as well as couples.  Money is still one of the leading reasons for divorce.  And in todays’ world divorce is another quick and easy thing we do.  Many people don’t want to take the time to really prepare for the lifetime commitment known as marriage and, instead, jump into marriage unprepared for the challenges, stresses and potential pitfalls ahead.  And when troubles arise more and more couples seek divorce and starting over with someone else rather than patiently working on their marriages to make them better or to save them from ending.  It’s a sad thing to see.

    

James gives a couple examples in todays’ reading.  First he speaks of farmers.  “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”  If any of you are familiar with the life of the farmer it’s all about waiting.  Don’t get me wrong, they work steadily and put in long days for everything they earn.  They wait for the soils to dry and warm up before they can work the land.  Then conditions have to be right for planting their crops.  Then, as those plants grow, they have to continue to tend them with weed control, fertilizing, sometimes having to use pesticides to control infestations, and in many parts of the country they even have to provide water when dry conditions prevail.  There are fears about conditions being too dry, too wet, too cold, or too hot.  There are so many different things that affect the farmer’s life and work.  And that is only the crops.  Dealing with livestock is another equally time consuming and stressful situation with its own long list of activities, decisions and efforts requiring tons of patience as well.  James next turns our attention to patience of a different kind.  We read about it in the next couple verses.

⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  ⁹ Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

James turns our attention to patience as it relates to our lives and to the people around us that we experience on a daily basis.  First of all James says that we need to “stand firm”.  That’s speaks of our faith in God and in Jesus’ sure return.  Think about this for a second.  If you knew the Lord was coming back today, this afternoon, or in the next hour would you change anything that you were doing, saying or thinking?   I’ve often told folks that we need to live like Jesus is coming back any minute.  That requires our being mindful of him throughout our day, not just during our morning devotions, daily prayers or whatever other way we stay in touch with him.  We need to patiently wait for his return because one of these days it will surely happen.  We need to always be ready.  In verse 9 James warns us about “grumbling about each other” and says that we will be judged by how we treat others.  Jesus said basically the same thing in Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “Before you judge someone else you should walk a mile in their shoes.”  Maybe you were taught the old version credited to American Indians which says “Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.”  Yeah, that’s a cool version too.  The bottom line is there is always at least two sides to every story and when we judge another persons’ behavior without knowing their side of the story, we could be making a very big mistake.  I know I have often been surprised when I learned the real story about a situation I’ve encountered and made a too hasty assessment of.  This takes me right back to James 1:19, 20 – “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”  You know, if we just applied that one concept to our relationships this would go a long way in improving them.  (Sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it?)

In the next couple versed of todays’ text James speaks about yet another example of patience.  He speaks about the prophets and then of Job.

¹⁰ Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  ¹¹ As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

When we think about OT prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel we remember the times in their lives when they went through great trials and they suffered but they stood their ground and their faithfulness brought them the blessings.  If we are children of God we should realize that there will be troubles, trials, and difficult times both in the course of just living on this fallen earth but also as we live out our faith on a day to day basis.  Another favorite verse of mine is when Jesus tried to warn his people that they would, indeed, have troubles.

John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

I just love this verse and share it often.  It is such a great encouragement to know that when we face these troubles, and we will, we don’t have to face them alone.  Never alone again!  I cling to that idea often.  So many times in the lives of people like the prophets and others of God’s family like Job we see that they, too, clung to their God no matter what and it got them through the tough times.  Watch out, another familiar phrase is rising to the front of my brain, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.  For Thou art with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”  Hmmmm, wonder where those words came from?  Remember, “Never alone again!”

¹² Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

I think you already know that the “swear” mentioned here isn’t cursing.  It’s when you “swear by” anything to prove that you are speaking the truth.  I hate it when I hear anyone say “Swear to God” in conversation.  Quite often it comes from the lips of someone who, by all outward appearances, doesn’t talk to God at all, yet they are calling on His name to prove their honesty.  Seems like that is dishonest, isn’t it?   James tells us that we should be as good as our word, that people should learn that they can count on what we say.  Let your word be truthful and something to be trusted.  This will carry over into your faith testimony as well.  People should know that if you said it, they can believe it without question.  That’s worth so much to you, and to your witness.

We’ll stop the post right there and take on the third and final of the “Rich in” topics next time.  I continue to discover new people who I didn’t know were working through this James study.  If you haven’t made a comment at the end of a blog or sent a quick email I’d love to hear from you and know that you are following along with the rest of us.  Please remember to be “Rich in Patience” with those you come in contact with each day.  Yes, that includes that cashier, the guy checking out your groceries or (Father help me) that person driving in the car in front of (or beside, or behind) me.  See, I’ve got patience issues just like you.  I won’t make a list or this post could go on a lot longer.  Lol  

One final comment, please remember…with Jesus Christ in your heart you are never alone!!!!!  God bless.