Patience (2-28-13)

James 5:7-8 - "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

James exhorts us here to be patient and strengthen our hearts because Christ’s coming is near. But the idea of patience here goes further than just the idea of waiting for something. The idea of patience in this passage carries with it the idea of bearing provocation, misfortune or even pain and persecution without complaint, annoyance or loss of temper. To wait patiently for Christ to return means to endure mistreatment and hard circumstances, and beyond that it means to rejoice in the midst of these trials. When we look into the context of these verses we see that this is exactly what James was talking about. In the verses prior to the ones quoted above James is talking specifically about the last days and he talks about the rich man becoming richer and more comfortable and the righteous man being condemned and put to death. In the following verses he says - "As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful." He sets up the prophets and Job as our example of patience when suffering. When we go through the Old Testament and look at the prophets we see that they were not very popular people. They were faithful servants of the Lord, proclaiming His message which was often an unpopular message, and in many cases these prophets were not only rejected and scorned by just about everyone, but they were also beaten and imprisoned and even killed for no other reason than that they were doing the Lords work. This is our example. This is how we're to be living in light of Christ’s coming. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." We're also given the example of Job. Job didn't experience the external persecution from unbelievers so much, but there is no clearer example of trials for the believer than that of Job. The Lord allowed Satan to try Job in order that the proof of his faith, being more precious than gold that is perishable, though tested by fire would be found to honor and glorify God. Through the trials that the Lord allowed Satan to bring into Jobs life, he was purified and perfected. He himself gave testimony to this in chapter 23 when he said - "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." We read in Job 1:1-3 - "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east." The Lords testimony of this man is that he was blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Again, the Lord says to Satan in verse 8 - "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." After this Satan asked for permission to test Job and the Lord granted him permission. In one day all ten of Jobs children died. Most of his servants were killed. All 7,000 of his sheep were burned up, his 500 yoke of oxen were stolen and so were all 3,000 of his camels. And if that wasn't enough, his wife turned against him. But in verses 20-22 we read - "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." Job is a prime example of enduring trials. I doubt if any of us will ever suffer to the extent that Job did, and yet this is the one that James sets up as our example of endurance.
So how should we be living in the light of the soon return of Christ? We should follow the example of the prophets by patiently enduring persecution and suffering. We should be following the example of Job by enduring in the midst of trials. Christ is coming, and it could be today. When Christ returns we don't want to be found retaliating when we're persecuted. We don't want to be found giving in to temptation or turning our backs on God in the midst of a trial. We don't know when Christ is going to come in the clouds to call us up to Himself, but as we wait our lives should be marked by patience.

James 5:7-8 - "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."