Suffering and Patience “Real Life” [James] Series [23] James 5:7-12

PERSPECTIVES OF REAL FAITH [4:13-5:12] In today’s text (5:7-12), our twofold question is this: 1.“WHY is patience required in suffering?” 2.“WHAT does it mean to be patient in suffering?”

WHY IS PATIENCE REQUIRED IN SUFFERING? It is required because Christ’s return is certain and imminent. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.…behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (vs.8,9b)  What we see in suffering is not the end of God’s plan— Christ, the Judge, will certainly return and his coming is imminent!  When Christ comes, he will vindicate us, equalize all injustice we endured, wipe out all of our tears and judge all the wicked according to their deeds.  So, this waiting for the coming of the LORD requires patience.

WHY IS PATIENCE REQUIRED IN SUFFERING? It is required because God’s purpose for our suffering is compassionate and merciful. …you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (v.11b)  Amidst suffering, we can’t see anything and know the purpose clearly, God is sovereign in his plan and purpose.  Nothing we suffer in the Lord is in vain.  God’s purpose is good because the Lord is compassionate and merciful toward his children.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING? 1)It means to wait patiently for the LORD like the farmer. 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. (vs. 7-9)  The farmer works hard but wait patiently for the timely rains and the precious fruit by the work of the earth.  Like the farmer, we are to wait FOR THE LORD—not for things, people, or quick fixes.  We are to be patient [makrothumeo] with people as well as with circumstances [hupomeno]; hence true patience leaves NO ROOM for grumbling against one another.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:7-11

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING? 2)It means to be faithful to the LORD like the prophets. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (v.10)  Prophets were the prime examples of people who suffered wrongfully because of the sake of God’s name.  Most prophets had to endure much suffering not only by the godless people but also by God’s own chosen people.  Their patience was from their unwavering loyalty to God and God’s Word given to them. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING? 3)It means trust in God’s sovereign purpose of suffering like Job. 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. (v.11)  Job’s patience was remarkable because of the double nature of his suffering—internal as well as external.  But in the end, God showed how blessed Job was by his steadfastness—the blessing was not only external but also internal (i.e., “sanctification of Job’s spirit).  We are to follow Job’s example in trusting in God’s compassionate and merciful purpose of our suffering. Though he slay me, I will hope in him. Job 13:15a

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING? 4)It means maintain sincere and guileless speech without compromise. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (v.12)  The outcome of being patient in suffering must lead us to single-mindedness and sincerity.  In so doing, we reveal the most important relational steadfastness—our loyalty to sovereign God.  Hence, we are to keep our hearts single-minded and our speech gutlessly sincere. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. Matthew 5:37

Patience in Long Stretches of Darkness The person… who looks for quick results in the seed planting of well-doing will be disappointed. If I want potatoes for dinner tomorrow, it will do me little good to go out and plant potatoes in my garden tonight. There are long stretches of darkness and invisibility and silence that separate planting and reaping. During the stretches of waiting there is cultivating and weeding and nurturing and planting still other seeds... I’m responsible for paying attention to the Word of God right here in this locale. The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it. - Eugene Peterson

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Wait patiently FOR THE LORD—NOT MERELY FOR THINGS.  Put your hope in God, realizing that your journey is long.  Be patient with difficult people as well as with difficult circumstances. 2. Be FAITHFUL TO THE LORD in suffering without wavering.  Guard your loyalty steadfastly to God in your suffering.  Stick to God’s Word unwaveringly. 3. Trust in GOD’S SOVEREIGN PURPOSE for your suffering.  Remember that God is compassionate and merciful.  Realize that God’s purpose for your suffering is good and perfect.