Patience, Perseverance and Pain

Introduction

I assume that all of you have taken (or are currently taking) P.E class. When I was in grade 8, the class had to do this thing called “6 laps.” It was mandatory exercise to test your speed and endurance. Prior to running my first six laps, I thought it was easy so long as I take my time and run slow. During the run, however, I was losing my breath, and I actually got a very bad time (probably at least 18 minutes).

Throughout the school year, my gym teacher kept making the class do a lot of running either on the track or at Langara Garden. By the time the class had to do the final “6 laps” before the end of the school year, I was able to improve my time drastically.

All this to say is that endurance and repetition builds patience and perseverance. Just like running, life is like running a marathon.

Life will toss many challenges into your life, but one of the things that life does, for certain, throw at you is suffering. Suffering.

Whether if you’re a Christian or not, you will encounter suffering. If you haven’t encountered suffering, then I guarantee you that you will because suffering is part of reality.

Today’s lesson will focus on suffering as a Christian. Being a Christian does not make you immune to suffering. Being a Christian doesn’t eliminate all sufferings in your life.

What I do mean by suffering?

The New Testament talks a lot about Christians’ who go through suffering because they’re persecuted for their faith. Peter says to the 1st century Christians who were suffering under the hand of a evil government: Nero.

READ.

[12] Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. [16] Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Exposition

Life does not necessarily run by rules. For instance, you work hard at school, get honour roll, get into a prestigious University, graduate and it’s time to find a job.

Life does not always work

James is going to instruct the Christians how they should behave and react to suffering in this life. Not only is James going to talk about behaviour and attitude, he is also going to instruct the Christians to be forward looking.

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Big Idea: Until Jesus comes back, we must be patient and persevere in the midst of pain.

When I use the word “pain,” I am talking about suffering. And you may have noticed that James mentions patience three times, steadfast/perseverance twice, and the coming of Jesus three times.

Verse 1

If you remember last week’s lesson, James gave a strong denunciation against the unrighteous rich. Now, James transitions from talking to the rich to talking to the workers because the workers are being persecuted by the rich.

Because they’re suffering, James gives them this instruction.

He is telling them to BE PATIENT. He doesn’t tell them to revolt and protest against the rich.

How long are they to be patient? Until the coming of the Lord. In other words, they have to be patient for a long time until Jesus Christ returns. We’ve learned about the 2nd coming of Jesus during the youth retreat, so I won’t regurgitate it.

How long are they to be patient? Until the coming of the Lord.

As we know, Jesus hasn’t return yet. Because Jesus did not return during the time of James, the workers must’ve been patient for a very long time until they died.

James gives an example of what patience looks like: a farmer. I doubt many of us have experience with being a farmer because we live in the city. Maybe you’ll think about going to Capernwray Bible College and learn the agricultural life.

It’s interesting that James uses farmers as an example of patience because the Christians he’s talking are laborers who may be farmers. So, perhaps James is reminding them to continue to be patient.

Farmers do not have control over the growth of the crops. They cannot force them to grow. Instead, they have to work hard to maintain and sustain the crops every single day. It’s a routine. They get up very early in the morning to start working, and they would work until very late until their energy is depleted. Farming is physically straining. Working long hours is backbreaking. They have work, suffer and wait patiently until the day they repeat the harvest. This would require an immense amount of patience on the part of the farmer. He needs to work hard in order to feed himself and his family.

Farmers are to prevent various things from destroying the crops. Things such as insects like whiteflies, mites, caterpillars, slugs and so forth.

Farmers are to be extremely careful with providing sufficient amount of water to the crops. Too much water may suffocate the plant roots and too little may not be able to sustain the plants.

Also, farmers do not have control over the growth of the crops. They cannot force them to grow. Instead, they have to work hard to maintain and sustain the crops every single day. It’s a routine. They get up very early in the morning to start working, and they would work until very late until their energy is depleted. John Neufeld, the Bible teacher for Back To The Bible, said that the farmer would not even go home and would fall asleep on the threshing floor. Farming is physically straining. Working long hours is backbreaking.

Farmers are to plow, sow, tend, until the day they reap the harvest, the first share of the crops. And this would require an immense amount of patience on the part of the farmer. He needs to work hard in order to feed himself and his family.

Verse 2

Given the example of a farmer, James tells Christians to be patient just like the farmers! As if telling the 1st time is not enough, he tells them the 2nd time.

A Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit would exemplify patience in his or her life. Patience is one of the fruit of the Spirit.

How exactly do you be patient? Two simple qualities: you need to learn forbearance and self-control. Learning to resist temptations and learning to control yourself and remain CALM.

Of course, being patient is difficult. Difficult circumstances can change us for the bad, but that’s why James tells the Christians to “establish your hearts.” Or to strengthen your hearts. It mean to be inwardly firm and committed and having an unchanging attitude of being patient in the midsts of pain.

Verse 3

Instead of being patient, the Christian workers may have been complaining and grumbling against one another.

Stay strong, be firmly grounded and remain faithful to Jesus no matter the cost.

Suffering changes

Why should the Christians be patient? Well, if you did not hear it the 1st time, he says it again, “for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Jesus Christ is coming back soon. His coming is drawing nearer and nearer. And if the 2nd time is not enough, guess what? He mentions it again, “behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”

1. In the midst of pain, be patient and persevere

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2. In the midst of pain, honour Christ with your life

Our behaviour is of importance to the Lord.

Complaining and Lying are sins. Lack of integrity. ()

Not all complaints are sins, but unjustified complaints are sin.

What’s considered justified? (Read ; some of the widows were being neglected)

What’s considered unjustified complaints? Not trusting in God to provide for your needs. Remember the Israelites complaining against God in the wilderness?

Why is complaining a sin? (Remember the Israelites complaining against God in the wilderness?)

Verse 12 may be a difficult verse to understand in light of context.

3. In the midst of pain, learn from examples.

a. Remember the Old Testament prophets (e.g. Jeremiah)

Suffered and persecuted for declaring the Word of God.

b. Remember Job

4. Remember the prophets and Job

Suffered for losing everything and criticism by his three friends