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As we continue our series on the book of James we have been picking up pointers on how to be mature in Christ. Through James, the Lord removes all doubt as to how a mature Christian should live. Just as a newborn baby has to be nurtured and taught, so does a new "born again" Christian... and James is a good book to start with. This week we are going to look at James 5:7-12 and the topic, "Be Patient - for What?"

The Bible teaches us to be patient. We are encouraged to be slow to speak, slow to become angry, or slow to act, but sometimes we feel like asking, "Why? What is the benefit in waiting?" Let's look at James 5:7-9 and find out...

"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. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:7-9.

If you were travelling on a road and there was danger ahead, wouldn't you be grateful if someone stopped you before you drove off a cliff or into the middle of an accident? This is what God is doing in this passage. He is advising us to beware and stop... because some of us need to stop taking revenge, stop complaining, or stop judging other people.

We need to really look at our behaviour and live God's way. We have to be patient and not repay evil with evil. We need to stop complaining about our current circumstances and our disappointments. Why? Because the Lord is coming - and it really will not be long!

Patience required

The example that James uses in this passage is a farmer. Illustrations drawn from farming will help even the newest Christians understand invaluable Biblical truths. At Cornerstone we have a Bermudian farmer in our congregation, Mr. Allan Bean. He shared with me how difficult it is to get the younger generation interested in this challenging and educational career. Two of the greatest reasons for the disinterest are the amount of hard work and the patience that a farmer has to exercise. So being patient is more than 'watching grass grow', it is actually trusting God to bring about a greater result.

Mr. Bean, like other farmers in Bermuda, probably understands the meaning of the passage far more than those of us who have never sown seed. He knows that although a farmer works hard, he has to be patient and wait for things to grow. Likewise, we as believers have to be patient, waiting, as our faith grows, for God to return. Exercising true faith will result in having patience when the times get hard. Like a farmer, we have to be patient and stand firm. If not, we will panic, make quick decisions, and get frustrated. Lack of patience will actually result in God's judgment in our lives. The end of verse nine states, "The judge is standing at the door!" - which means that His coming won't be long now! Wait for His judgment!

Let's look at the next part of this passage...

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. 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." James 5:10-12

The reality is that we will all face various kinds of suffering or difficulty - being a Christian does not circumvent trials. We must have faith and entrust ourselves to God. We have to wait to see what God has to bring about, like He did with Job. In chapter 1 and 2 in the book of Job, God and Satan had a conversation, unbeknownst to Job. When trials befell Job, he persevered through faith and did not give in to the bad advice his three friends gave him. Toward the end of the book Job started sinning by accusing God of having cloudy judgment; God humbled him, rebuked him twice, and brought Job to repentance. God then blessed him with twice as much as he had before!

So, how should we live? Like Job. We should trust in God, and be humble enough to admit that we are wrong when God gives us a warning and shows us our faults. We should remember that even though we suffer at times, God is full of compassion and mercy. Living in truth and in faith we have no need to make false promises to escape our problems. We don't need to burden ourselves by swearing that we will be "good Christians" or making other unrealistic promises. Instead, we should simply seek to be men and women of our word. This is the integrity that God wants to bring about in our lives. This will lead to a genuine heart, a heart full of passion for God, perseverance in our trials, and patience to live out His plan. Take a lesson from the farmers!

Pastor Gary C. Simons serves as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, 82 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda.

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