New Life Burbank

Read James 5:7-11
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. ¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ 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.

Reflect
James is exhorting us to be patient for justice. We know that God calls us to pursue a life of good works, sacrificing our own interests for the interests of others, having an attitude of forgiveness toward those who have wronged us, serving without expecting human recognition and reward. Yet pretty soon it dawns on us that following in this path inevitably puts us in a position where others can take us for granted, or even take advantage of us. It’s aggravating. It’s disillusioning. Is there any end in sight? Where is the justice? Where is the reward?

Nothing dampens a once-exuberant zeal for Christ than being hit with wave after wave of disappointments in life. The office politics that upend your chance for a promotion. A spouse who was attentive during your dating years but seems indifferent now that you’re married. The in-laws who never seem to accept you. The call to be patient in a fruitless situation seems almost too much to bear. It’s fitting, then, that James’s exhortation isn’t simply about being patient for a particular moment, or for a particular trial, or with a particular person. It’s not just about weathering something unpleasant and then moving forward with your awesome life. James is saying that your earthly life is the suffering you are called to weather until the Lord’s coming. Because once you become a follower of Jesus Christ—where you are required to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and return a blessing for a cursing—there will always be suffering … and probably not a whole lot of payoff this side of heaven.

The farmer is patient for the harvest. The prophets were patient through persecution. Job endured his humiliating suffering until his vindication. So we also establish our hearts and exercise patience through the sufferings, tribulations and injustices of this life. If you look to get your reward now you will lose heart, grow bitter, or seek vengeance against those who have mistreated you. But if you set your sights on the Lord’s coming, and God’s own reward for those who endure their sufferings patiently, you will find strength enough to make it to the end. The Judge is standing at the door. Our vindication is closer than we think.

Memorize
James 5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Pray
Heavenly Father, being patient through sufferings and injustice is harder than we ever imagined it would be. Establish our hearts. Teach us to serve willingly, not to please others but to please you alone. Give us the patience to wait for your reward at your coming. Amen