Gaining Patience

CHOOSE PATIENCE 

JAMES 5:7-12

MAIN POINT

God’s patience toward us has led to our salvation, so we must extend the same kindness toward others.

INTRODUCTION

Our world today moves a lot faster than it used to. What are some differences you have noticed from even just a few years ago?

How do you think the “speed” of our world affects our level of patience?

Can you describe a time in your life when haste led you to jump to a wrong conclusion or to make a decision you came to regret?

We should all be very grateful for the patience of our God. Paul reminds us that we should not “despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience” because “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:40). The Lord is patient, and He knows every detail for every reason for the things that happen. How much more patient should we be since we rarely know the circumstances for the things that happen in our lives? Our prayer today is that we will learn how to be more patient and celebrate the joy that comes with not being hasty.

UNDERSTANDING

James 5:7–8 ESV

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Does the patience of the farmer have any effect on how quickly his crops will ripen? What good will being impatient accomplish?

How do faith and patience go together?

How is the farmer an example of patience for us?

How is being patient often hard work?

We know that impatience will not help the farmer’s crop grow any faster. If he wants corn, cucumbers, or beans, he will simply have to wait for them. Being impatient will only make the waiting more miserable at best, or it will lead him to do something foolish at worst. If the farmer has faith that his work will be rewarded and that he will get to eat the fruit of his labors, it will help him wait.

Read:

1 John 3:2–3 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

What are all of God’s children called to wait for patiently? How would you say you are doing at this patient waiting?

The illustration of the farmer is a reminder that we wait for Jesus’ return, and we are confident that when He returns, He will reward us for our labors. Being patient doesn’t mean that we sit around and do nothing, though. It means that we work with joy, knowing that our Lord sees our effort for the kingdom, and He will reward us in due time.

James 5:9–11 ESV

9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What is the danger of grumbling against another brother or sister?

How does this grumbling demonstrate impatience

What does it mean for us if we suffer as the prophets suffered

How can remembering the rewards of the prophets keep us patient in a time of testing?

Grumbling against our brothers and sisters demonstrates that we are impatient with their progress in the faith. Not only this, our grumbling against others will also begin to divide church fellowship. It will force others to take sides, and it can lead to terrible problems in the church. Certainly, none of us are perfect, and we ought to be keenly aware of our own failings. If we are aware that God’s patience toward us is changing us into better people, our patience with others will be rewarded with seeing them progress in their faith as well. Just as an impatient farmer will not quicken the growing of his crops, so too our impatience with our brothers and sisters will not help them mature into the people God calls them to be.

If we name a hero of the Bible, we can almost certainly name how they suffered for the sake of God’s kingdom. They endured, patiently, by remembering the reward of those who remained steadfast in their love for God. If we do the same, we will be as blessed as those of the faith who came before us.

James 5:12 ESV

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Matthew 5:34–37 ESV

34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Why doesn’t Jesus want us to “swear by” things?

What does God’s ownership over everything have to do with our promises?

What does saying “yes” or “no” have to do with our patience?

We don’t truly own anything in this world. Everything, from our homes to the hairs on our head, are the property of the Lord. We should not be presumptuous in swearing by things that we do not own in the first place. We are stewards of the Lord, taking care of the time and the things He has given to us while we are on the earth. Remembering that God is sovereign—that He owns everything—should remind us that we are not in control. We don’t have to feel like the outcome of everything depends on us. If we will remember this, it will help us remember what God has called us to do individually, and hopefully keep us from over- or under-committing ourselves!

APPLICATION

In what areas of your life do you have a hard time choosing patience instead of trying to “do it yourself”?

What are some ways we might take care to be more patient with one another in the church family?

How can we demonstrate more patience in the ministries of the church? What might this look like?

PRAYER

Ask the Father to help us learn to be patient with others as He has been patient with us. Pray that we will not be hasty in our judgments of others or situations. Ask the Father that we will always remember that His patience toward us has led to our salvation, so that we can extend the same kindness toward others.