Part 16

As we look at our verses for today, it is important to remember that James is addressing suffering saints who have been scattered abroad by persecution as indicated by his opening exhortation: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3 NASB9) In preparation for the conclusion of his Epistle, James exhorts these suffering saints to be patient, not to complain against one another, to endure and to be straightforward in their conversation. Let’s look at verses 7-12 of chapter 5:

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. (James 5:7-12 NASB95)

The word patient is the Greek makrothumeo (mak·roth·oo·meh·o) and means to be "long-tempered", slow to anger and slow to punish. The idea is to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles, to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others. James started out encouraging the saints to consider it all joy, but here he seems to settle for patience…if you can’t be joyful, at least be patient!

I find the phrase until the coming of the Lord interesting. How long are the saints to be patient in trial and suffering? Until the coming of the Lord.

I’m confident he never thought over 2000 years would pass before Jesus returned!

Having grown up in a sub-culture that saw in every newspaper headline clear evidence of the "soon coming", I’ve become a bit cynical about defining "soon", but here’s my conclusion: Regardless of when the blessed event actually takes place literally and corporately, for each of us individually, the second coming of Jesus will be no longer than our life time. Regardless of your belief in what happens when you die (going directly to heaven or lying unconscious in the grave), the next moment of consciousness you experience after death will be in the presence of Jesus.

The illustration James uses to encourage patience is one almost everyone would understand. Farmers don’t see immediate results from their work of sowing and no amount of anxiousness will speed up the process. It takes sunlight, water, soil and time to bring about the desired fruit of a new crop…a little fertilizer helps too! One part of the illustration that is often overlooked is so important for believers to understand. It is God who makes the seed produce…He alone can bring forth the desired fruit. This is both true in agriculture and in the Christian life! The focus is always on Him!

James moves right from his illustration of the farmer to another exhortation: Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

The Greek word for complain is stenazo (sten·ad·zo) and means to sigh or groan. Young’s Literal Translation uses the word murmur…to grumble from impatience. It appears that James is, once again, taking a law approach by exhorting that if a believer engages in such activity, he will be judged by God.

It cannot be a matter of salvation…it’s a matter of demonstrating what is best in human behavior. Non-believers will not be attracted and God will not be glorified by believers who engage in impatient complaining. 1Corinthians 3 tells believers how they will be judged by God.

From this exhortation, James cites the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and specifically Job, as examples of patient endurance under persecution. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the prophets as an example of patient endurance (Matthew 5:10-12). James seems anxious to be sure the saints understand that obedience does not always bring ease and pleasure. The examples of Elijah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel are an encouragement that God provides for those who are true to Him, but not all were delivered…some experienced painful deaths. Remember, every scenario must be demonstrated.

In verse 12, James warns believers to be straightforward in their conversation: But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. (James 5:12 NASB95)

Once again, James uses the threat of judgment to encourage the saints to do the right thing…in this case, speak plainly. Don’t be "cagey"; speak the truth in love. Don’t be ambiguous; tell it like it really is. You don’t need to "swear" or take an oath in order to make people believe you are telling the truth…just consistently tell the truth and they will trust you.