Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Monday morning Daily Devotions
summer series titled
“The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!”
The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!
This
week we will continue our reading of verses 7-12
in chapter 5
as we consider Patience Through
Trials…
Beloved,
we don't need to be “reminded”
that we all have “trials”
and none
of us escapes them! However, we do need to be “reminded” from time to time about the need
to be “patient” in
and through
our “trials” in life. And that is exactly
what this wonderful section of James epistle addresses – Being
patient in the midst of trials!
All
the books, seminars, lessons, sermons, teachings, biblical counselors and
worldly psychologists cannot remove or alleviate
our “trials” nor can they be eliminated from this
world. No one escapes this reality, as anything from a flat tire on the freeway
to the death of a mate and everything in between adversely
affects our lives to some extent. This tremendous “truth”
is the reflection of God’s “curse”
on the “sinful” and “disobedient” fallenness of “man” and this wicked “world” system – The
curse of God exists because of sin!
Patience Through Trials
For
the “Christian” there is a unique form of “trials” that non-Christians will never
experience. What kind? The “trials” of persecution for
the “truth” of God! True “believers”
are “persecuted” for the sake of Jesus
Christ. This is a kind of “tribulation”
and “suffering” that the rest of the “world” does not have to
experience. Why? Because “lost” people belong to the “wicked one” of this “world”
and “know not” the “truth”
of God. Therefore, “we” as “followers”
of Jesus Christ must endure the rampant “rejection” of a hostile society
that rejects
the “gospel” message – Even within
the church!
And
certainly the Jewish “brethren”
to whom James was writing here were specifically experiencing the
trouble of “persecution” coming from
their own Jewish “countrymen”
of which made it doubly difficult to bear. As a result, back in verses 1 to 6 of our previous study James condemns
the “wicked wealthy” Jews for their harassment
of the true “believers.” And now in this
study our passage speaks directly to the “Christians” being “persecuted”
for their “faith” in Jesus Christ and “reminds” them of the godly attitude they are to uphold – This is a very practical section of Scripture!
In
fact, James provides for us SIX
practical KEYS to being patient
during “trials” with other
people:
KEY number ONE: Anticipate the Lord's "coming!"
KEY number TWO: Recognize the Lord's "judgment!"
KEY number THREE: Follow the Lord's "servants!"
KEY number FOUR: Understand the Lord's "blessing!"
KEY number FIVE:
Realize the Lord's "purpose!"
KEY number SIX: Consider the Lord's "character!"
Therefore,
let’s continue with these encouraging
thoughts from pastor James concerning “patience”
in our “trials” of life…
KEY number ONE: Anticipate the Lord's "coming!"
Therefore
be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also
be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand – James 5:7-8
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: Let's look at that
word "patient" for a moment.
The Greek word hupomone of which was used back in chapter
1 is translated as "trials”
or “temptations" and means to “endure” adverse circumstances. The
same Greek word hupomone here in our passage has to do with “enduring” adverse people. Therefore,
the application
for the true “Christian” has to do with
the “fruit-filled” ability “empowered” by the Holy
Spirit to be “patient”
in all
circumstances. And here in this poignant passage it refers to being
“patient” towards the “trials”
of “oppression” coming from the “wicked wealthy” outlined earlier in our
study – Context is very important!
Often
times we long to go to “heaven”
and it’s dearer to us the more we “suffer”
in this wicked “world” system. It's the pain
of “persecution” that causes this anticipation.
Therefore, James offers us a simple illustration of the “farmer”
which conveys the idea of “waiting”
expectantly
and “patiently’
for something outside of himself. The Greek term means he “waits” for his crop of “precious fruit” to come. Thus, the
harvest of the “farmer” depends on the providence of God in bringing together all of the necessary components of nature
including the “early and latter
rain” to cause the crop “at
hand” to grow. This is true of “our”
lives as well! Beloved, “we”
too must be “patient” as we “establish” our “hearts”
throughout the various “seasons”
of life for – The soon coming of the Lord!
HISTORICAL
HINTS: In Israel the main “rain” comes twice a year. A “farmer” plants in the autumn season and
the “early rain” falls in the planting
season of October and November. And then sporadic rain falls in the growth
season through December, January and into February. But then the “latter rain” falls in March and April for
the harvest
season. Therefore, James is saying “we”
must “wait” on the Lord from the “early rain” when planting God’s “truth” in “our”
hearts “until” the “latter rain” when harvesting God’s “righteousness” in “our”
lives. In other words, we must be “patient”
and “wait” for the spiritual results!
This permanent promise from God is nothing like the little child
who plants the seed in the ground one day and then runs out to the garden the
next day, sticks his grubby little hand into the dirt and pulls it out to see
if it's growing… Conversely, the diligent and faithful “farmer”
is not at all like the silly and immature child – The wise
and mature believer plants and waits upon the Lord!
KEY number TWO: Recognize the Lord's "judgment!"
Do not
grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge
is standing at the door! – James
5:9
Next
James warns the “brethren” not to “grumble’ against “one another” in their
“walk” with the Lord or they will
be “condemned”
by Him. Why? Because living under “persecution” can create all kinds of frustration
and hostility
towards the persecutor of which inevitably makes the offended person bitter
against the other people around them. The idea here is that people “living” in difficulty can
become so embittered that they lose “patience”
not only with their persecutor and with those of whom are trying to provide help
and comfort
but even towards God Himself – Misplaced
sinful frustration!
James
then warns: “Behold” the “Judge” is “standing”
at the “door” to judge! Why? Perhaps James had in mind here the fake
“Christians” and could be referring to
their final “eternal judgment” of damnation.
However, even true “Christians”
will be “judged” for our “works” of service unto the
Lord in THIS life – To serve Him in the next…
THEOLOGICAL
THOUGHTS: There is going to be
an “accounting” time for all “believers” when we will “appear” before “Jesus Christ” and our “works” will be “revealed by fire” and we'll “receive” the “loss” or “reward”
from Him in accordance with our service unto our Savior.
The Apostle Paul taught the true “believers”
in Rome and Corinth that “we”
will “all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ” one day:
But why
do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we
shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every
tongue shall confess to God.” So then each
of us shall give account of himself to God – Romans 14:10-12
For no
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare
it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s
work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he
will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he
himself will be saved, yet so as through fire – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive
the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad
– 2 Corinthians 5:10
Therefore
“we” must all “stand”
before the “Judgment Seat of Christ” to
“receive” our “rewards”
or to “suffer” our “losses” whether “good or bad” in regards to our service
unto the Lord for our FUTTURE
life in the “Millennial Kingdom” yet to
come – Maranatha Lord Jesus!
In
either scenario, ALL “believers”
AND
“unbelievers” will face the eternal “Lord” and “Judge” of the universe at the
appropriate time – Jesus is ready to burst into judgment!
KEY number THREE: Follow the Lord's "servants!"
My
brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example
of suffering and patience – James
5:10
When
we are journeying through the “trails”
and “sufferings” of life, we need someone as a
model to follow. So James encourages the “brethren” to “take”
the “prophets” of the Old Testament as they “spoke” in the “name of the Lord” as an “example” of the great “suffering” and “patience”
displayed through their lives. In fact, Jesus Christ “gave”
of Himself as the greatest Godly “example” for “us”
to emulate:
For I gave you an example that
you also should do as I did to you – John 13:15
That's
what an excellent “example” is to be! Jesus
says “do as I did” and imitate the
conduct
of the “prophets” of old. They “suffered” and were “patient”
in their “trails” of greatest
difficulty. In other words, the “brothers”
who “belong” to the community of “faith” must – Follow
their pattern!
KEY number FOUR: Understand the Lord's "blessing!"
Indeed
we count them blessed who endure – James
5:11a
What
James is saying here is to “count”
the Lord's “blessings” bestowed upon His
people who “endure” abundantly. By the
way, God’s “blessings” do not come to
God’s people who do “great”
things. God’s “blessings” come to
His people who endure “great” things – Praise
the Lord!
KEY number FIVE:
Realize the Lord's "purpose!"
You
have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – James
5:11b
In
other words, consider this: God has a purpose in your “trials” and “suffering”
in life! The “perseverance”
of “Job” was one of the most popular
and familiar
stories of Jewish tradition. Why?
Because it is the story of a “righteous”
man and
a “compassionate” God. The Jewish people loved
to tell that story! God blessed “Job”
for his “persevering” life of “faith” and had a wonderfully
planned “end” in “mind” for him. What
end? It was a great blessing for the man “Job”
who had “endured” and ultimately defeated
Satan’s “evil” plans as “intended”
for him – In the mighty power of God!
KEY number SIX: Consider the Lord's "character!"
that
the Lord is very compassionate and merciful – James 5:11c
Therefore,
whatever you're going through, the “Lord”
is “compassionate” and “merciful”
in “our” lives every day just as
the Prophet Jeremiah expressed in his
lament:
The Lord’s loving
kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is
Your faithfulness – Lamentations
3:22-23
God
has a massive capacity for “compassion” and He expresses it – Deeply, broadly and faithfully!
Stop Swearing!
Making
promises
to other people and wanting them to respect us can often times demand that we “swear” an “oath”
of some kind. Why? Because people may not believe
we are telling them the “truth!”
Therefore, “swearing” and giving “oaths” is really a device of man
based upon his “sinful” bent towards dishonesty.
In fact, “lying” became an issue in
the “church” to which James writes. How? These Jews were holding to “oaths” of all kinds because
it was so much a part of historic Jewish culture. And when some of them had
simply named the “name”
of Jesus Christ in a vain “religious”
pomp, they brought their silly “heaven”
and “earth” oathing system right along with
them into the true “assembly” of God. Therefore,
James addresses this wicked issue of “swearing” an “oath” head-on:
But
above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any
other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment – James 5:12
POINTS TO PONDER: We often invent silly
“oaths” and even in some cases promote “curses” imposed upon ourselves before
God. Why? Because we often “lie”
to people and thus have also “learned”
in life that other people can't be trusted to keep their word
either! Therefore, these “sinful”
kinds of “oaths” were a part of the
culture in biblical times just as they are with us today. After all, “unregenerate” humanity is designated
throughout the Holy Scriptures as the “children of the devil” and incidentally,
the “devil” is the “father
of lies” himself. As a result, people will go to unbelievable
extremes to try to “bind”
someone to the “truth” of their word. The
fact is that all such actions are predicated on man's basic “sinfulness” in the context of “evil” human – Foolish
fallen flesh!
As
James closes this poignant passage, he says that “above all” we shouldn't be
surprised at his great concern of God’s “judgment”
here. Why? Because this “oath” taking is directly related
to another TEST of our “tongue” manifest through our “mouth” – Right?
Therefore, the true “brethren”
must “let” our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No,” “No” to avoid
– God’s deep displeasure!
In
fact, James is repeating his big Brother Jesus Christ in reiterating
this great “truth” through the opening
segment of His Sermon on the Mount
found in the Gospel of Matthew:
But let your statement be,
‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’;
anything beyond these is of evil – Matthew 5:37
And
if you've been with us up to this point in our “study”
of James’ excellent epistle, you should “know”
that he has diligently dealt with the “evil”
potential of our “speech” in EVERY
chapter – And this is no exception!
In closing:
Think back to your childhood…
When
you were a kid, did you ever try to convince somebody you were really
telling them the truth? Did you ever say
something like: "I swear to God?" How about this
one: "I swear on a stack of Bibles!" Or what about this one:
"Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!"
I’m sure you did! Brethren, I assure you that I’ve indeed quoted these silly
sayings – A few too many times!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, our “speech” should always be so honest
and full of integrity and credibility that the only
response people will need from “us”
is a simple “YES” or “NO” answer. Why?
Because our word is our bond. And that's certainly
the way it ought to be throughout the “church”
of Jesus Christ! How about YOU? When you
“speak” in general, does everyone know
that it is absolutely true and that you will stand
behind your word? – The Lord knows!
Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued study of The
Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!…
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect
love, mercy and grace!
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings!
Shane <><
