FAITH: Patience, What We Need to Know
Study of James
Week 8
Farmers have a tough job. Really. They sow seed, water, wait, check and recheck, then wait some more. Patience must be built into a farmer’s make up or his impatience could destroy everything he is hoping for.
I’d like to think that I am like a farmer, but I know myself. Patience does not come easy for me.
Here, James addresses Christians young in their new found faith regarding their need for patience.
“ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”(v7-8)
This word, patient, is too important to overlook.
Patient, in this passage, means to “persevere, long-tempered”. Here, the Greek, makrothymeo, refers to “showing divinely directed patience.” Divinely directed patience, only expressing anger as the Lord directs. In other words, where and when He chooses. In this instance, we would refuse to retaliate with anger or frustration because of our human thinking.
This is a slight variation of “patience” found in Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit passage. The Greek for patience in this passage is makrothumia, “divinely regulated patience” originating from a relationship with the Lord, consequently, a fruit of the Spirit.
Both, directed by the Lord, both manifesting in long suffering.
So, what about our farmer? James once again uses an everyday familiar context to make his point. Just as a farmer is challenged to suffer long, and not direct anger at the difficult and uncontrollable process of growing a harvest, so too should be our response.
James calls us to “stand firm”, be patient and encourages us not to retaliate using our own reasoning. That can be easier said than done especially when things aren’t going our way or if we have been wronged.
Well, James offers some insight to help us.
“You, be patient, strengthen your hearts…. do not complain…” (v8-9)
Be patient, makrothymeo, “showing divinely directed patience.”
Strengthen, fix, firmly establish, solidly plant your heart.
Do not complain, groan within oneself, murmur.
How many times have you been faced with a difficult situation, declared your faith in God’s divine guidance only to begin to grumble and complain when things were not moving fast enough. Complaining changes our outlook, our focus and can have the opposite outcome of what we are believing God for.
I know I have been guilty of that.
But in verse 9, James elaborates, the “Judge is standing right at the door.” That my friend, is Christ.
He is not standing at the door ready for us to make a mistake to punish us. No, He is standing there, with us, acting on our behalf, to declare guilty anyone or anything that would thwart His plan in our lives.
Paul shares it like this, “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the steadfastness of Christ.”(2Thess 3:5) There it is again, the Lord directing our hearts for His will, in Him. I love that, don’t you?
Remember, first we are patient (in Him), we stand firm (in Him), and do not complain, because we trust in Him.
Our faith in Christ divinely directs our hearts in order for His life to be displayed in our lives, for His glory. Like the patient farmer, we wait knowing Christ is with us.
jeannaswann
#nowuntohimwhoisable
Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)
If patience is allowing the Lord to direct our hearts, to suffer long, when we yield angry retaliation and not rely on our own reasoning, where has this been most evidenced in your life?
(ie. work, family, church, relationally)