James 5:7-11

v. 7-11

v. 7, Patience

endurance, longsuffering, etc.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

“Christian patience is not a mere yielding to necessity, as the moral patience taught by some philosophers was, but it is a humble acquiescence in the wisdom and will of God, with an eye to a future glorious recompense: Be patient to the coming of the Lord.”

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2418). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Patience, he is coming. Have a realistic expectation

v. 8, More patience

Compare the waiting and labor of a farmer to the waiting and labor of a believer.

Greater reward, yield

Imminent outcome, end

Patience, He is coming soon. Have an urgent expectation.

v. 9, Composure

grumble… groan, complain, sigh

Characteristic of impatience

Toward one another

Arguing, half-heartedly communing.

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

begrudging others’ wrongs

Colossians 3:13 NKJV

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

judging others’ hearts

James 4:11–12 NKJV

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Judge

He will judge you by your own judgment

He will judge others rightly

Like children before their parents get home.

The groom is coming soon, will we be caught unaware, ashamed, unprepared.

v. 10-11, Reference

Prophets

Job

Obedience, endurance

Honored

Count them blessed

Rewarded

Compassionate and merciful

The will of God

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

His purpose, His timing, His way

We wait… be still and know that he is God. Occupy until He comes.

Hebrews 12