“Three Reasons for Patience”

 

Text:     Jas.5: 7-12

Intro.: The primary theme of James is the marks of maturity in the Christian life.  He uses the word “perfect,” which means mature or complete several times(Jas.1: 4, 17, 25; 2: 22; 3: 2).  Spiritual maturity is one of the greatest needs in our churches today.  Consider the problems James was dealing with and you can see that each of them was characteristic of little children:

Impatience in difficulties – 1: 1-4

Talking but not living the truth – 2: 14ff

No control over the tongue – 3: 1ff

Fighting and coveting – 4: 1ff

Collecting material toys – 5: 1ff

He also uses the word “patient” or “patience” 7 times.  We all know that a mark of maturity is “patience.”

ILL.: A baby crying because it wants fed right now or it wants its way right now is a mark of immaturity! 

My wife saw a key chain that said, “I’m not a spoiled brat! I’m not! I’m not!” (Need to grow up!)  In military it was, “Hurry up and Wait!”

Most of us don’t like waiting! Red lights (esp. in Jamestown!), Dr.’s offices, checkout lines, on the phone etc. 

But all of that waiting in our life may actually help to develop some patience in us.  Whether it does or not may be open to debate, but God uses tribulation in our lives to make us mature and to produce patience in us.  James was seeking to encourage the believers as they were going through trials and problems.  He brought to their attention the most encouraging fact of the Christian faith in times of trials - the coming of the Lord.        

We may get impatient as we get into trying circumstances, times when people mistreat us, and it seems like God Himself has forsaken us and we will need this admonition from James.  We may at times get into a situation like the late preacher Philip Brooks.  A friend one day came in and found him pacing the floor like a caged lion and he said, “What’s the trouble, Dr. Brooks?”  And Dr. Brooks said, “The trouble is, that I’m in a hurry, BUT God isn’t!”  You see our trouble is we need patience!  James knew this was what the believers needed then and it’s what we need now!  In light of our trials and troubles . . .

 

Every believer must remain patient unto the coming of the Lord . . .

 

A)                Because the reward doesn’t come right away (vs.7-9)

1)                  A husbandman (farmer) must wait for his crop to come in!  If you’re impatient, then you’d better not be a farmer!

2)                  Farmer waited for “early” rain to soften the soil so he could plow and then the “latter” rain would come in the spring to help mature the harvest.

3)                  Why did he willingly wait so long?  Because of the “precious fruit.” The harvest was worth waiting for!

4)                  The rewards you’ll receive one day will have been worth waiting for! (Gal.6: 9)

5)                  God may make you wait a while before you receive a reward but He won’t forget

                                                                  

your work! Heb.6: 10-12; 10: 34-37; 11: 39-12: 2

6)                  ILL.: Christmas Gifts- What makes Christmas so exciting is the expectation of the gifts as well as the surprise of what you are going to get.  One Christmas our children all “peeked” under the bed to see what they were getting and it ruined their surprise.  I whipped them for looking and being impatient.

7)                  “Grudge not . . . ” (v.9) When we get impatient we often start to grumble and complain about waiting so long, about how unfairly we are being treated, and we start taking out our frustrations on those around us.  We are to be careful not to do this lest we be condemned, that is, found guilty as charged.  And then we are told, “the judge standeth at the door,” in other words, the Lord is coming so soon that we don’t want to be found in disobedience when He comes.  It’s almost like telling a child that their father is right outside the door and he will see them.

8)                  We must remain patient unto the coming of the Lord because when He comes He will reward us! (Lk.12: 35-40)

 

B)                 Because witnessing for the Lord (like the prophets did) leads to affliction (v.10)

1)                  Jesus used the prophet’s as an example of victory over persecution (Mt.5: 10-12).  What encouragements do we receive from them?

2)                  They were in the will of God, yet they suffered!  They spoke “in the name of the Lord,” yet they were persecuted.  Satan wants you to think that when you suffer it’s because of some sin or unfaithfulness; and yet it might very well be because of your faithfulness! (2 Ti.3: 12).  The Lord was obedient, and it led to the cross!  C.H. Spurgeon said, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not first cross-bearers on earth.”

3)                  Consider the prophets: 

A)                Elijah - Told King Ahab there would be a drought and he suffered from it too!

B)                 Jeremiah - Arrested as a traitor and was thrown into a pit where he sunk up to his armpits until he was finally rescued.

C)                Daniel - Lion’s den.

D)                Isaiah - Sawn in half inside a hollow log.

E)                 2 Chr.36: 15-16.

4)         Why is it that those who serve the Lord often endure such difficulties?  So their lives might back up their messages.  The impact of a faithful, godly life carries much power.  The patience they display in times of suffering is a testimony to others around them.

5)                  Haven’t many Christians suffered and died without any notice?  YES, but when Jesus returns, these “others” will receive their rewards (Heb.11: 36-40).

6)                  We must remain patient unto the coming of the Lord because witnessing leads to affliction now, but one day it will lead to a crown!

 

C)                Because the Lord has a purpose for each of us (like He did for Job) (vs.11-12)

1)                  “...happy which endure.”  In heaven they are so happy they endured and were faithful and we will be too! Ro.8: 18.