"When You're in a Hurry and God Isn't"

The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks(1835-1893) was known for his calmness and poise. His close friends, however, knew that he too suffered moments of frustration and irritability!

One day a friend saw him pacing the floor like a caged lion (he was a big man—6’4” and 300 lbs). “What is the trouble Dr Brooks?” asked the friend. “The trouble is,” replied Brooks, “that I’m in a hurry and, but God isn’t.”

If you’ve ever felt like Dr. Brooks, then this section of James is for you! The words patience and steadfastness and/or endurance (depending on your translation) are mentioned SIX times!

James 5:7–12 CSB

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.

I. We Need Patience When We Face SUFFERING – (5:7-8)

A couple of observations on the text:

1. No matter what evil has been done to them, they are not to retaliate! – (v.7a) – “Therefore…”

The “therefore” refers to (vv.4, 6) – the injustice inflicted on them by the wicked wealthy!

(v.6b) – “…who does not resist you.”

It is this non-resistance that Jacob refers to when he admonishes them to “…be patient.”

2. They are to display PATIENCE! – (v.7)

“Be patient” is from μακροθυμήσατε – from two words: “makros” – ‘long,’ and “thymos” – ‘temper’ and is often translated, “long-suffering.”

The word stresses non-retaliation and it means, “to hold one’s spirit in check!”

VINE’S – “Long-suffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliateor promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy…”

CHRYSOSTOM: “…the spirit which could take revenge if it liked, but utterly refuses to do so.”

3. Patience/long-suffering is the OPPOSITE of what the world of their day admired!

The Greek virtue was megalopsuchia, which Aristotle defined as refusal to tolerate any insult of injury! To the Greeks, the real man was the one who went all out for vengeance!

Jacob says the Christian is at his best when, though he can exact vengeance, he refuses to do so!

4. Jesus Christ is the PERFECT illustration of patience!

1 Peter 2:21–23 CSB

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

5. This patience is to control the believer until Jesus Returns! – (v.7b)

In other words, “…until the coming of the Lord”when Jesus will right all wrongs, we are to leave vengeance in His hands!

6. Jacob illustrates patience with the Palestinian farmer! – (v.7c)

The farmer sowed seed on ground that received no rain at all for much of the year!

The fields were brown, and the soil was dry. Modern irrigation techniques were unknown and dependence on rains was crucial! The farmer had to accept that fact and plan accordingly. He planned on two rainy seasons for the success of his crop.

The “early and the late rains” refers to the Fall rains in Oct/Nov, which softened the ground after the heat of summer, and the to the Spring showers of April/May, which caused the grain to ripen.

Joel 2:23–24 CSB

Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God, because he gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.

The point of the illustration is for the believer to WAIT for vindication!

Just as farmers wait for the rains for their crops, the believer must also learn to live in anticipation of the Lord’s Return (παρουσία) and not get upset with circumstances that are difficult!

7. Patience REQUIRES a conscious effort on our part! – (v.8)

“…Strengthen your hearts…” – lit., ‘make firm your hearts!’

The verb conveys the thought of establishing and supporting something, so it will stand firm and immovable!

Instead of feeling agitated and shaken up by their experiences of oppression, they must develop an inner sense of stability!

In other words, it is your responsibility to develop an attitude of courage and firmness!

Jacob even provides the reason: “…because the Lord’s coming is near.”

II. We Need Patience When We Face DISAPPOINTMENT! – (5:9)

Again, a few observations on the text:

1. This imperative, “..do not complain” seems almost out of place in this context.

“What is our normal response to difficulty? What do we usually do when we begin to feel stress from difficulties?”

We complain to anyone who will listen! We gripe, we complain, we STENAZO (Greek) – which means, “…to complain, conceived of as vocally indicating pain, discomfort, or displeasure in an inarticulate manner.”

How many times have you growled at someone—against “…one another” because of the pressure you are experiencing?

2. This is behavior IN THE CHURCH – “Brothers and sisters, do not complain against one another”

The POINT: We are to display the same patience with each other as we do when facing the world!

3. Jacob also provides the MOTIVE to stop “…do not complain about one another” – (v.9b)

“…so that you will not be judged. Look the judge stands at the door.”

(James 4:11-12) (John 5:24-30) (2 Timothy 4:1, 8)

III. We Need Patience When We Face DISAPPROVAL – (5:10)

1. Jacob suggests a look at the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord!

There are at least ELEVEN passages in the NT that refer to the persecution of the prophets.

Here are a few: (Hebrews 11:36-40) (Matthew 5:11-12; 23:37) (Acts 7:52)

2. The prophets suffered, not because they did anything wrong, but because they were doing right!

They spoke in the Name of the Lord! As a result, they were disapproved by their contemporaries, and persecuted for their testimony!

3. Jacob IDENTIFIES with these suffering saints! – “…brothers”

Four times in these verses he calls the recipients of this letter, “Brothers and sisters…” (ἀδελφοί)

He identifies with them in all he is saying!

According to church historians, Jacob met a violent death because he would not denounce the Messiahship of Jesus!

On order of the High Priest, he was thrown down from the pinnacle of the Temple!

Luke 6:22–23 CSB

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.