Patience
James 5:7-12 (NIV) Patience in Suffering
7 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. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as 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.12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Be patient, He says. Don’t grumble, He says. Do you ever want to look up to the heavens and say, Father, do you actually know me? Then you look at it again. Be patient? Oh, wait. He says be patient “in suffering.”
Well, that is a different matter.
Now we have entered into the territory where we are to give thanks for everything, for that is the will of God. 1 Thess 5:18. That I can do!
Oops. Here’s another “thou shalt not”
Don’t grumble against your brothers and sisters. That means fellow believers. So, what are we supposed to do if we have a valid (we think) complaint? Might I suggest we pray for them and then pray with them.
Lastly, we are told not to swear by heaven or earth or anything else. Another landmine! As children we learned to cross our hearts and hope to die. And if we were really serious we added “spit the devil in the eye.”
As we grew older, we learned to say, “I swear on a Bible,” and then “a stack of Bibles.” Lord, have mercy. Matt 5:3:37 tells us to “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” Isn’t that simple?
So, does God really know us? Of course He does. Perhaps if we read these instructions over and over again they will be like a tree planted by the living water that will yield fruit in its season. Ps 1.
May we live in the simplicity of a life grounded in faith and rooted in the understanding that God is our source. Let us depend upon and follow Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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