James 5:7-12 Patience in Suffering

We are coming to the end of our series on James and what I think has been clear throughout this series is how practical James’s letter and exhortations have been. From the very beginning of his letter, he dove right into the meat of the matter without spending time with long introductions or much context to situate his exhortations. He writes with a keen awareness of what the main problems people are facing, what the stakes are, and how God’s wisdom applies. After a very brief introduction, he begins his letter, “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” You would think after beginning his letter this way that the main theme of the letter would be how to cope with suffering, but instead, James very quickly shifts to a focus on wisdom and how it is applied in the life of the church. Throughout the letter, James teases out how we can apply heavenly wisdom in different situations - why we should ask for it, why we should apply it and not just hear it, why we should not show partiality to the rich, why we should control our speech, and how worldly living is contrary to heavenly wisdom - but as he brings his letter to a close, he returns to the theme of how we should respond to suffering. Take note of that because we’ll return to it.

At the beginning of chapter 5, he warns the rich, who are culprits in the suffering of God’s people, reminding them that they are laying treasures for themselves in the last days and that everything they are laying up for themselves will be stripped of them and they will be subjected to misery if they do not turn from their love of wealth. Throughout James’s letter, he has shown how and why we should live according to God’s wisdom, but now he is shifting to what will happen if we don’t. It is fitting then that as we approach the end of James’s letter that our attention turns to eschatology - which in theological terms is the doctrine surrounding “last things” - referring to final judgement, Christ’s return, and the destiny of the world.

After warning the rich about the future miseries that lie ahead if they don’t repent, he exhorts us to be patient on the basis of that warning because the Lord is coming. In the section we read, James leaves us with three exhortations for how we should respond to the coming of the Lord. He says, be patient, do not grumble, and do not swear. For those taking notes, this conveniently is the structure of today’s sermon. First, be Patient because God’s timing is not our timing, Second, Do not grumble because God is doing something good, and third, do not swear, because we cannot control God.

1) First - Be patient because God’s timing is not our timing

James tells us, “be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord”

On the basis of James’s warning we can be patient because God will judge the wicked and save us.

As a child, I was terried of the second coming.

When I became a Christian, it has been one of my greatest consolations. Even more so as the years go on.

For many people, the idea of the Lord’s return and judgement is not only scary, but offensive. - “how could a loving God”

If there is no final judgement, who will rectify all the wrongs that went unnoticed or unresolved? Where is justice for the victim

It is good that God is just and will execute justice in the end.

transition: when will that happen?

Illustration: “see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient until it recieves the early and late rains.”

early and late rains - Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24, Hosea 6:3 - In a desert, rain is synonomous with blessing - It is God who gives the rains (blessing) in the appropriate season.

early rains of autumn Oct/Nov - softening ground for plowing and sowing

latter rains in spring Mar/Apr - crop maturation

Just like God controls the seasons, he controls the timing of preparation, timing of growth, and the timing of blessing

sub illustration: Story of Josheph - sold into slavery by his brothers and unjustly imprisoned for years. God elevated him to the 2nd highest position in Egypt so that he could save his family. Genesis 50:20

Take-away: Joseph did not know when God’s purposes would be fulfilled, but he patiently endured

Patient endurance as we wait for the coming of the Lord looks like “establish your hearts” Paul gives this same exhortation for Christians waiting for Christ’s return in 1 Thes 3:13 and 2 Thes 2:17.

What is commanded here is a firmness of faith in the midst of temptations and trials. As we wait, we need to fortify ourselves for the struggle against sin and difficulty.

Application: What are you doing to fortify your hearts for the struggle against sin and the difficulties of life?

Prayer, Word, Fellowship

2)Second, Do not grumble because God is doing something good

Patiently enduring difficulty and suffering is not easy. James know that, which is why he exhorts us to not grumble = specifically about one another.

As we’ve already discussed, this letter is not treating Christians as the poor ones and the rich ones as the pagans. Rich and poor exist inside and outside the church

any division outside the church can be found inside the church: male-female, rich-poor, black-white

we live in a culture where these differences are weaponized by getting people to cultivate a heart of complaining.

illustration - rich, white man - Lord Henry Dundas - Renaming Dundas Square

The divisions and complaints of the world should not be found in the church BECAUSE otherwise “we may be judged because the judge is standing at the door.”

James is likely quoting Matt 7:1 “judge not lest ye be judged”

We are not in a position to judge our brothers because 1) we are all sinners 2) we may only judge by appearances and not right judgement and 3) God gives us all time to repent and is working with each of us through his grace

by judging others in Christ, we undermind the basis of our salvation, we can foster a bickering culture, and we can harm the growth of a brother in Christ

illustration: worked in Power to Change - co-worker called me a conspiracy theorist because I was more conservative and the whole dynamic of the office was poisoned because I didn’t subscribe to CRT

grumbling brings division. It doesn’t bring blessing. We are given 2 examples of blessing that come from patient endurance in the midst of suffering: the prophets and Job

Prophets - Luke 13:44 - O Jerusalem Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you

Elijah - lived under continual persecution. At odds with Jezebel. Lived in a cave, fed by ravens

blessing - Elijah died without seeing Israel repent, but his testimony and deeds rippled into eternity. He saw the glorified Christ with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. His blessing was not seen in his lifetime

Job - lost his wealth, his children, and his health. The worst worldly catastrophy imaginable

blessing - He met the Lord in a whirlwind, his steadfast faith was vindicated (even if corrected), and he was blessed with twice his wealth, More family, and a long life

The prophets and Job were not marked by their grumbling, but by their steadfastness amid difficulty

illustration: health journey, unable to continue my job, relying on wife for bills - I trusted in the Lord

application: How do you respond to difficulty and remain steadfast through suffering - do you find that you have a complaining heart or do you fortify your heart?

3) Third, Do not swear because we cannot control God

not cussing. Swearing oaths. Quoting Matth 5:34

seems out of place - Should this be in another section?

oath taking was a sign of impatience displayed by people who believed that they could move God to action by swearing oaths

seen in Word of Faith movement - sowing a seed to move God to bless you; donating to their ministry.

“If I do this special thing, God should see it and reward it” - nowhere advised in scripture

Can also be invoking God’s name to support what you’re saying or doing. Lev 19:12 explicitly condemns this, “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord”

illustration: boss that used to say “I swear to God” -

Consider your speech as if God is actually listening.

Conclusion:

As we approach the end of our sermon series on James and consider what it means to wait until the coming of the Lord, lets remember that we are called to be patient, recognizing that God's timing is perfect and that He is sovereign over every circumstance we face. Our endurance amid hardship is not just a passive waiting; it is an active strengthening of our hearts as we lean into prayer, Scripture, and fellowship.

James also compels us to avoid grumbling, urging us to be mindful of how we treat one another in times of difficulty. Instead of fostering division through complaints and judgments, let us cultivate a spirit of unity and understanding, remembering the examples of the prophets and Job, whose steadfastness bore great witness amid trials.

Finally, he warns us against the impulse to swear oaths in our impatience — an act that reflects a lack of trust in God's perfect will. Instead, let us speak truthfully and rely on God’s faithfulness. As a church, let us stir one another to love and good works in our everyday lives, embodying the patience, grace, and steadfastness that reflect our faith in our Lord, who is coming to judge the living and the dead.