Good
morning from a snowy Panhandle. As you read this study I pray it will
bless you and your walk with our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.
James
has just shared his warning regarding the misuse of wealth in vs.
1-6, Now he turns his attention from the non-Christians who have been
oppressing the believers to the oppressed believers.
Here
in verses 7 – 12 we see the word patient
and endure
5 times, 5 times in 6 verses, I think James is trying to make a point
don't you? And according to Webster one of the synonyms for endure
is “be patient with,”
and one of the synonyms for patient is “enduring.”
The story is told that Andrew Jackson's
boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous
general and then the President of the United States. They knew of
other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of
Jackson's friends said, "Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down
the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy
three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is
now." Another friend responded, "How did there happen to be
a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?"
"Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit
he was beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim Brown would get
tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be
the winner."
Picking up on that idea, someone has
said, "The thing that counts is not how many times you are
'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'." We
may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith.
Then, through the Holy Spirit's power we can be the eventual victor
over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord's, so there is no
excuse for us to stay "throwed"! – Our
Daily Bread.
In
the midst of oppression, James counsels the Christians of his day to
be patient, to not “stay throwed” until the coming of the Lord.
It was good counsel then and it is still good counsel for you and me
today.
James
5:7-9
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!
1.
Be patient until the Lord’s coming (vs.
7–9).
Trials
and affliction often produce grumbling or complaints. I know it does
with me and if you are honest with yourself it probably with you too.
Let's face it our natural tendency is to want to gripe and complain
or worst when someone does us wrong. Instead of this kind of
behavior, James urges the oppressed brethren to be patient. As hard
as it may seem you and I are still commanded by Christ Jesus to have
an attitude of long-suffering (patience) in the face of affliction
and injustice. Look at what Matthew says in his gospel:
- Turn the other cheek – Matthew 5:39
- Let him have your coat – Matthew 5:40
- Go two miles – Matthew 5:41
In
counseling us to be patient until the coming of the Lord, James uses
the example of the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the
earth until it is ready to harvest. (v.
7). The hard-working
farmer can prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and keep the field
weeded. However it is God who supplies the rain and sunshine needed
for the seeds to grow. The farmer waits for the early rains and the
latter rains.
James
was writing within the context of the climate of Israel which
receives its early rain in late October and early November, and then
receives its late rain in April or May. That is a long time to wait
for the harvest. And yet the farmer patiently waits because he knows
that he cannot hurry the process.
In
the same way, James assures us that God is always on time and that we
cannot hurry the process. (v.
8). The Lord’s
coming is near! Peter contends that the one reason that the Lord has
not returned is that He is
patient (in the same way in
which He desires for us to be patient) and
is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance (2
Pet. 3:3–9).
While
waiting, you and I should establish (stay-rē-zō)
our hearts, which means to fix or strengthen. The prophet Isaiah
shared the same counsel when he wrote,
“You will keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on You; because he trusts in You”
(Isaiah 26:3).
Now
the hard part, at least for me sometimes. Well not so much with other
Christians, but there are times. As we wait, you and I should not
grumble or complain against our fellow Christians. Grumbling involves
the development of criticism and fault finding against our Christian
brothers and sisters. This in turn hinders us from developing
patience and long-suffering.
James
warns this kind of judging of other Christians can lead to your own
condemnation. (v. 9).
The Judge is standing at the door – 1
Corinthians 4:5 –
Therefore judge nothing
before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to
light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's
hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
The
Lord also says that He stands at the door and knock (Revelation
3:20). If you have invited Christ Jesus in then leave the fault
finding to Him. If you have not open the door and invited Christ
Jesus in then why not do so now?
Oswald Chambers wrote in his book
Christian Discipline, Suffering
is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God.
Each one ends in the cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent
thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs
we know the widespread heritage of suffering. – Oswald
Chambers in Christian Discipline
You
see there isn’t anyone who is exempt from suffering not even Christ
Jesus. And so James told those early Christians to:
James
5:10-11
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.
2.
Be patient in the face of suffering (vs.
10–11).
James
was writing to a suffering church. He wrote not only to instruct but
to comfort and encourage. As he encouraged his readers to be patient
in the midst of their suffering he gave two vivid examples from the
Old Testament Scriptures.
The
Old Testament prophets and Job exemplified patience and suffering.
The prophets suffered because they spoke in the name of God.
- Jeremiah: was beaten, placed in stocks, imprisoned, and thrown in a cistern. Yet he trusted in the Lord. In the end he suffered martyrdom by stoning at Tahpanhes [takh·pan·hās'] in Ancient Egypt for his faith in God.
The
writer of Hebrews tells us that others wandered in sheepskins, being
destitute, afflicted, and tormented (Hebrews 11:37). Job is example
number two. He was blessed because he endured, and because of his
patience. Job’s consistent obedience under trial was legendary
among the Jews. And still is among God’s people. Job suffered
abject misery for no legitimate reason. And yet he committed his way
to the Lord and trusted in Him. God was compassionate and merciful to
Job and blessed him much more than he possessed prior to the time of
suffering (Job 42:12).
James
wanted those suffering for their faith to see that God is the same
yesterday, today and forever (Heb.
13:8). The same God
that showed compassion and mercy to the past prophets and Job was
still in the compassion and mercy business. And guess what God is
still in the compassion and mercy business. Through Christ Jesus that
compassion and mercy were made free to us as we trust Him and follow
Him as Lord (v. 11). Indeed, you will also be blessed if you endure.
So
we have seen that you are to be patient until the Lord comes and in
the face of suffering. Now we see that if you are patient there will
be blessings.
3.
Be patient and you will be blessed (v.
11).
James
knew that the result of being patient and enduring suffering would be
the blessing of God. He stated, “We
count them blessed that endure.”
James may have been referring to the teaching of Christ Jesus on this
important subject. Christ Jesus said, "Blessed
are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all
kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for
your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted
the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11-12.
To
be “blessed” is to be “happy.” Christ Jesus offers you
something that the prince of this earth can not – a quality of
happiness which you can enjoy even in the midst of suffering and
persecution.
It
is no wonder that you and I should consider those “blessed” or
“happy” that endure. The promise to us is that our Lord’s
coming is near. How near, I’m not sure but you can bank on this we
are one day closer. Christ Jesus is compassionate and merciful, and
He will reward those who are “over comers.”
“And I heard a loud voice
from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among
men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and
God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no
longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have
passed away."
Revelation 21:3-4
Facing
struggle? As I have said we all face struggles, why not let Christ
Jesus see you through your struggles? Why not lean on His compassion
and mercy and take part in His rewards today?
James
5:12
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.
Once
again, James surprises us by a seemingly abrupt change of direction.
4.
How Not To Swear (v. 12)
As
he comforts those who are suffering and counsels us to endure the
suffering that come into our lives with patience and perseverance,
James now sounds another note of warning.
James
began chapter 5 by warning against the misuse of riches, and here he
warned against the misuse of speech by swearing. During your stress,
and we all seem to have some, don’t resort to flippant oaths that
communicate something about God to the world that you did not intend.
Christ
Jesus taught in Matthew
5:34–36,
“Do not swear at all;
neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it
is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great
King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one
hair white or black.”
James
concluded his teaching concerning swearing by stating, “Let
your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No!’ For
whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Again,
James is quoting directly from Christ Jesus in His Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5:37).
Christ
Jesus stated that whatever we say which is more than merely “yes”
or “no” is from the evil one (Matthew 5:37). Do not pretend to
say yes with your mouth, and annul it in your heart; let the yes or
the no that you express be genuine. Don’t think that any mental
reservation can cancel any expression of obligation in the sight of
God.
Like
our first century Christian brothers and sisters we will have
struggles and we will suffer for Christ Jesus’ sake. No you may not
face the threat of imprisonment or death yet, but if you are a
Christian, be assured Satan will bring trials and struggles into your
life. However as a Christ follower you are to be patient and endure.
You are to be patient and endure because this life here on earth is
not your final chapter. Christ Jesus has promised He will come back
for you and all of His followers, and He has never broken a promise,
so be patient.
Remember
that as we are patiently waiting for the return of our Lord, Christ
Jesus you are to mind your tongue even in times of stress. We are not
to bad mouth our fellow Christians or complain about them. Because of
your endurance and patience you will be rewarded if not here then in
our heavenly home.
Finally
brothers and sisters do not make promises or declare oaths you do not
intend to keep.
If
you are not a Christ follower and you don’t get anything else
today, get this – God keeps His promises. Not only that, He has
made a way for you to share in His compassion and mercy through His
Son, Christ Jesus. Will you ask Christ Jesus to become your Lord and
Saviour today? If you will, He will.
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