Patience in Suffering
James 5:7-12
Introduction: Let me take
you back for a moment 2000 years or so. The disciples had been through a
rollercoaster of emotion as the heartbreak and confusion of the Cross gave way
to the joy of Resurrection Sunday. Jesus had conquered death and proven beyond
question who He is. Then, for forty
days, he had been appearing to them and teaching them about the Kingdom. He
told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Finally the
disciples asked Him, “Lord, is it at this
time that you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Now Jesus had been teaching about
the kingdom for 40 days, and he could have rebuked his disciples for their
question. Hadn’t they been listening? But he didn’t. He redirected them. “It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons the Father has set by his own authority. But [rather than “when,”
this is what you should be concerned about] …you will be witnesses for me…” He re-directed their thinking from “when”
to “what”, that is, from when He will return to what they should be doing until
He returns. Now notice what happens next
(Acts 1:9,10):
“Now
when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out
of their sight. 10 And while
they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel, 11
who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like
manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Notice how Luke emphasizes the
connection between their question, the ascension of Jesus, and the words of the
angels. The timing of his return is known
only to God. The practical impact of the imminence of His return is to inspire
readiness and faithfulness on the part of the followers of Jesus. One of the
themes that is foundational to James in this letter is discipleship. James
wants his readers to know what an authentic Christ follower looks like. In this
passage James wants his readers to know that though we will have trials, though
we will pass through difficult circumstances and have to deal with difficult
people, we should live differently in the light of the promise of His return.
This past week a few of
us were interviewed at the Olympians meeting on Wednesday night. One of the
questions that was asked of me was what do you like about being a pastor. I am
glad about one question that wasn’t asked: What do you least like? I like the people, and love seeing how God is
working in them, growing and maturing them and using them. I don’t like to see
the suffering and pain and struggles that so many go through. I guess I should
have learned by now that those two go together. James said, “Count it all joy brothers when you fall into
various trials, know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…”
But if we are to bear one another’s
burdens that is exactly where we have to be, alongside, praying with them,
walking with them. James has been
speaking throughout this letter to believers who are experiencing trials and is
urging them to patient endurance, to hang in there in the midst of trials with
a confident hope in the future. (1:2,3,12).
As the work of a farmer is
invested in faith, with his hope anticipating a future harvest, so we should
serve the Lord, even in the midst of trials, trusting in His plan.
The
Big Idea: Even when life is tough we
can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for
our good, and for His glory.
I. Be Patient:
The Lord is coming (7-9). As surely as a farmer must wait for his crop to
mature, believers can trust that God’s story is unfolding on schedule. Notice
James has changed his tone from prophetic rebuke, to pastoral encouragement. He
begins, “Therefore, be patient brothers and sisters…” He is addressing fellow
Christ followers, brothers and sisters in the flesh since they are Jews, and
spiritually since they are believers.
The first
word in the Greek text is the imperative “Be
patient…” It’s a compound word that breaks down as “long tempered…” When we
think of the English expression “short tempered” we can see the idea, patiently
enduring people that could anger us or annoy us or drive us to frustration.
This word usually focuses on how we deal with difficult people. A little later
we’ll see another word that talks about our “enduring” of difficult
circumstances.
The
foundation of our hope: the promise of His coming (7a). “Be
patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” The
promise of his coming, the imminence of His return, is mentioned three times in
three verses. That promise is the foundation of our “blessed hope.” Titus 2:11-13 says,
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men, 12 teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly in the present age, 13
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ…”
Jesus is returning. Do you believe that?
Whether or not you believe it, that is the truth. How then, should we live? Well Paul told us in that Scripture: “…soberly, righteously, and godly in this
present age…” with an eye toward heaven, knowing that this present sin
infested world is temporary, even fleeting. Jesus is returning. By the way notice
the “therefore” near the beginning of verse 7. It is reminding us that this
admonition comes as a logical follow through to the warnings we looked at the
last couple of weeks: Since it is
foolish and futile to plan our future without submitting to the sovereign plan
and prerogative of God, since our riches and material comforts are
temporary and fleeting and can offer no hope beyond the grave, we can patiently
endure hardship and difficult people looking with hope, with a confident
expectation, toward the promise of His return.
The
example: The patient endurance of the farmer (7b-8). “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 and stand
firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” If you don’t
have patience, farming is probably not for you. A farmer does his part,
planting, irrigating, fertilizing, but there is a lot he can’t control and one
is the timing of the harvest. In Bible times the ability to irrigate was much
more limited, and the seasonal rains coming at the right time was crucial. Everything
was done in anticipation of the harvest. It’s ready when it’s ready. It’s time
when the time has come. James is saying learn from the example of the farmer,
waiting patiently, knowing that the time of harvest will come. “Coming” is the
word “parousia,” i.e, “arrival” of
the Lord that has “come near.” The verb indicates a past act with continuing
results. This is the doctrine of the imminence of His return. God knows when, it
could be at any moment, so we must stand firm in our faith, ready to meet the
King, and actively embrace the mission He has entrusted to us.
Don’t
grumble: You are almost home (9)! “Do not
grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold,
the Judge is standing at the door.” When I think of “grumbling” in the Bible my
mind goes quickly to the Hebrews in the wilderness. They grumbled under the
oppression of slavery, God used Moses to bring them out of Egypt. Then they
grumbled in unbelief at Kadesh Barnea, they grumbled about a lack of water,
they grumbled about a lack of food, they grumbled about a lack of meat… We
never grumble right? Well… This context that speaks three times about the
imminence of the Lord’s return says don’t grumble. Why? Because a day of
judgment and justice is coming. Even when life is tough we can patiently endure,
trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His
glory.
II. Persevere:
The Lord is merciful and compassionate (10-11)! We are surrounded by a great
cloud of witnesses who testify to God’s faithfulness, even through times of
adversity.
The example of the prophets: “As an
example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the
name of the Lord.” The Hebrew prophets had a unique calling. For the
most part it was not to bring predictions about the future coming of
Messiah. They were the “prosecuting attorneys” of the Covenant, often citing
the evidence that Israel was guilty of being unfaithful to their covenantal
commitments. This was not always a
popular message to preach, but despite resistance and persecution, they stayed
faithful. Sometimes they suffered, sometimes they were hated, but if they were
a faithful prophet they had no choice but to speak the message God had given. I’ve
been reading this week through Jeremiah – his message was not popular, he was
rejected, beaten, hated, thrown in a well, but he continued to speak the truth.
Hebrews 11:32-39 summarizes some of what the prophets went through as they took
a stand for truth and called the people to covenant faithfulness:
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me
to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the
prophets- 33 who through
faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the
mouths of lions, 34 quenched
the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of
weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead
by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they
might rise again to a better life. 36
Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were
sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep
and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-
38 of whom the world was not worthy- wandering about in
deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended
through their faith, did not receive what was promised…”
Their message was not “popular,” it was not easy to
preach nor was it warmly received, but they stayed faithful, speaking the truth
that God had entrusted to them. James
speaks not only of the perseverance of the prophets, but points to one
particular example of perseverance under trial: Job.
The
perseverance of Job: “Behold,
we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the
steadfastness of Job…” “Steadfastness” [hupomone] speaks to standing up under pressure, not wavering in the
midst of trial. Whereas “long suffering”
emphasizes patience with people, the word here, “patience” or “steadfastness,”
emphasizes bearing up under the difficult situations of life. Job’s experience was horrendous, and yet he
could say, “Though he slay me yet I will
trust Him.” What faith! As we read the story of Job, we can see a bigger
picture than Job himself understood, yet he stood firm. And ultimately he experienced
God’s compassion and mercy, as James says here: “…and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is
compassionate and merciful.” Even when life is tough we can patiently endure,
trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His
glory.
III.
Be honest: Don’t let suffering lead
you to bargain with God or with men (12). All God wants is our trust and our
obedience. On first reading, without considering the context, v.12 might seem
out of place, “But
above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any
other oath. But let your ‘Yes,’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall
into judgment.”
First of all, recall that James
in this letter has been very interested in calling attention to “sins of
the tongue.” It’s a small thing, but is capable of causing a lot pain and
destruction. In this passage he has already talked about grumbling, and now he
cautions against taking an oath. He draws attention to this imperative with the
phrase, “But above all my brothers…”
The emphasis on speech is not surprising when you think about it. Where else is
a lack of patience and endurance most likely to show itself? It starts in the heart, but out of the
abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
We might grumble and complain or lash out in anger, or we might try assuaging
the situation with words, saying what people want to hear or making
promises we are not sure we can keep. A disciple should simply speak the truth
in love, let his/her “yes” be “yes,” and “no” be “no.”
In the
context of trials and suffering this makes sense. Under duress, facing pressure
from circumstances or from people, we can try bargaining with God or making
promises to people to alleviate the uncertainty of the moment. This is one of
those passages where it looks like James is reflecting on something Jesus
taught in the Sermon on the Mount. We read in Matthew 5:33-37,
"Again you have heard that it was said to
those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the
Lord.' 34 But I say to you,
do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor
by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of
the great King. 36Nor shall you
swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 "But let your 'Yes' be
'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil
one.”
As a believer in Christ my word should
be my bond, it should be enough if I am truly committed to being a person of
integrity.
What
is God saying to me in this passage?
Even when life is tough we can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan,
and that He is working for our good, and for His glory. God is writing a story
on the stage of human history that reveals his character, his power, his love
for his people. We don’t know all the details but we know enough about the big
picture to say with confidence that the suffering of this present age is not
worthy to be compared to the glory that will be reveal in us. The end is going
to be better than we can possibly imagine.
What
would God have me to do in response to this passage? Are you going
through a difficult period in your life right now? Maybe its circumstances that
seem about to bury you, or maybe it’s a person that is trying your patience. Remember,
this too will pass! God has a plan, and if you know Christ you are included in
it. I’ve never been a runner, my younger brother has taken to running marathons
and recently did a half iron man race. I’ve heard that distance runners can get
to a certain point where they “hit a wall,” and feel like they can’t go on, but
if they can “push through” they can make it to the finish line. You might feel
like you are up against the wall, out of gas, unable to continue. Remember that
the suffering and pain of this age is temporary, passing. Remember that Jesus
is returning and it could be soon and very soon that we are going to see the
King. Remember He is with you and promises wisdom to those who ask, and
endurance to those who lean on Him.
AMEN.
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