James 5:7-12, The Power of Patience

Have you ever felt like you were living a righteous life–reading your Bible, praying daily, worshiping God, participating in fellowship, serving others, growing in discipleship–yet life still seemed unfair, hard, and nerve-wracking?

If so, you’re not alone.

Our passage today speaks of Christians who were mistreated, maligned, and oppressed. Life was hard in Jesus’ day. Common laborers lived in poverty, exploited by wealthy plantation owners. About one-third of the Roman world was enslaved. Women had no rights. The rich ruled, often in a harsh and oppressive manner. Injustice abounded.

All the while, Christians wondered if God noticed. Did He care? And would He ever alleviate their suffering?

The text calls for Believers to trust God. Be strong. Endure. Persevere. And not give up. The exhortation can be summed up in verse seven: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.”

What is Patience?

The English word “patience” used in James may not be what we think it is. William Barclay describes the Greek word, hupomone, as “not a passive patience, but that gallant spirit which can breast the tides of doubt and sorrow and disaster and come out with faith still stronger on the other side.”

Barclay adds, “There may be a faith which never complained or questioned; but still greater is the faith which was tortured by questions and still believed.”

Patient is like a Farmer

My Dad grew up on a farm. My uncle Raymond farmed for a living all his life. I lived among farmers in central Indiana. Our family also farmed as a sideline venture. One thing I know is that it takes patience to be a farmer. James summed it up nicely. “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.”

Rain, drought, pests, diseases, soil erosion, rising costs of grain and fertilizer, labor shortages, market fluctuations, and governmental regulations–the farmer is at the mercy of all these challenges and more. Yet, he plows, plants, works, and waits. Patiently.

Believers need patience like a farmer.

The Prophets Perseverance

The Old prophets faced ridicule, rejection, persecution, and suffering. Elijah fled for his life. Jeremiah was thrown into a pit. Daniel was cast into the lion’s den. Yet, they persevered. They did not flinch, falter, or cower in fear. Their patience was not a passive resignation, but was a steadfast, active, and faithful commitment to their ministry and to the Lord.

Like the farmer, we need to keep working and sowing, and like the prophets, we must continue to witness and walk the walk.

Job’s Integrity

Perhaps there’s no greater example in the Bible of patiently enduring suffering, shame, loss, and heartache than the Old Testament patriarch Job. God allowed the Devil to plunder his wealth, take his family, and afflict the body with pain from head to toe. Yet, in all this, the Bible says that Job did not speak foolishly, blame God, or compromise his integrity.

Job’s faith enabled him to persevere, despite not understanding why he was suffering, yet trusting in God. In the end, God rewarded Job, and He “blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12).

Guarding Our Hearts and Words

When life gets hard and seems unfair, it’s easy to become frustrated, bitter, and start complaining. James says, “Don’t grumble.”

Let’s refrain from airing our personal, and sometimes petty, grievances all over social media. Give up posting and worrying about every injustice in the world, real or perceived. Avoid aligning yourself with far-right or far-left groups that diminish your Christian influence. Cease from incessant political posturing that too often weakens your witness for the Lord.

God will not right every wrong in our lifetime. He will mete out justice in His time. Not ours. Avenging wickedness and ungodliness is His prerogative. Not ours. Furthermore, never forget that the success of His Kingdom does not depend on the kingdoms of this world.

In the meantime, it is our responsibility to be vigilant, be patient, be faithful, and be ready for the coming of the Lord.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman