Read with Me
James 5:7-11 (HCSB)
Therefore, brothers, 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, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!
Brothers, 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 from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Listen with Me
Patience is an amazing thing. It is listed early in the list of spiritual fruit that naturally manifests itself whenever the Holy Spirit is in residence (Galatians 5:22), and it is often urged and encouraged for the people of the kingdom. But it is viewed with suspicion by many in the Church.
A pernicious theological principle has arisen around this indispensable spiritual fruit. (Note that it is not a spiritual “gift”, given to some and not others for the building up of the body. It is a fruit or natural outgrowth of the Holy Spirit’s presence.) The principle is often stated like this: Never pray for patience. If you do, God will send troubles your way to make you develop it!
The root of this false theology is based on two misunderstandings.
First, and most importantly, is a misunderstanding of God’s character and the way He works. He is a holy, good, and gracious God, not at all like the gods of the nations, who were often cruel, capricious and unpredictable. Jesus himself pointed out that, as the best parent imaginable, God gives good things, not harmful or nasty things, to those of his children who ask (Matthew 7:9-11). He will not bring trials when patience is sincerely requested. (Although ever child of the kingdom must understand that trials will always come in this broken world.)
Second is a misunderstanding of what patience truly is. Some seem to think that having patience means that trials, challenges, and even persecutions won’t bother a person. But the Greek word translated as patience, macrothumia, means long-suffering, the ability to stand up under trials, challenges, temptations, and even persecution without giving up or giving in. A better translation might be perseverance, stick-to-it-iveness, or even grit. A person with great divine patience will still find problems, persecution, and suffering painful, but will be supernaturally enabled to hold fast to their faith all the way through.
James’ two illustrations of perseverance are well chosen. The first is the farmer waiting for his crop to spring up and ripen. As anyone who has grown fruit or vegetables can tell you, there is a long and hard process that must be faithfully worked before the crop can be harvested in the food eaten.
The other example is those who have gone before us, and who faithfully completed their race despite painful, frustrating, and sometimes deadly opposition. In this group are the prophets of old, and Job, whose faithfulness in the face of incredible suffering is nearly legendary.
James points out that the key to perseverance is understanding that the Lord’s coming will happen soon. And when He comes, He will avenge those who have suffered persecution and set all things right. Even though he has not yet returned, we are now 2000 years closer to his arrival than when James penned this letter.
Pray with Me
Father, I have heard people say that we should never pray for patience. And You are right that it is a pernicious and erroneous theology that betrays a lack of knowledge of You and of the true nature of patience. Lord, give me all I need to stand firm in You and to keep moving forward, even when the path is hard. Lord, give me patience. Amen.