JAMES - index 

Introduction  Lesson 1  Lesson 2  Lesson 3  Lesson 4  Lesson 5 

Lesson 6  Lesson 7  Lesson 8  Lesson 9  Lesson 10  Lesson 11

LESSON 10:

James 5:7-11

7 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

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Key Verse:

James 5:8

"You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

COUNSEL TO THE OPPRESSED

INTRODUCTION

A. Historic background

In the midst of trial and persecution, it was easy for the Jewish believers to lose sight of the goal and to see instead only the present situation. James encouraged them to look beyond the immediate and see the ultimate. No stronger appeal could be made than to the immanency of the return of Christ, the Judge Who will right the wrongs. James backs this up with an appeal to the example of the prophets, and also to the example of Job. As he does, he proceeds from the present to the earlier, Job being the earliest that he cites. In this way he encourages them on two counts: Christ's imminent return and the example of those who have waited long. In both cases God's ultimate triumph is demonstrated.

B. Current background

Modern life is filled with testings for the believer. Some of us might not face the same persecutions as the early believers; but on the other hand, we do face some that they did not. Today, as then, it is easy to lose sight of the ultimate triumph, to allow the immediate circumstance or problem to become all-important. We, too, need the same perspective that they needed. We need to recognize the sovereignty of God in the circumstances, and to keep in mind that God is working all these things for our greater good. The prophets are an example to us of suffering for the truth. Job is an example of God's ability to bring even seemingly meaningless difficulties to work for our good. We also have the added example of the First Century believers themselves and of the saints and martyrs of the centuries since. The steadfast still win.

I. Why do we have to have longsuffering for something that is at hand? (5:7,8).

A. James tells us that the oppressing rich are building up a treasure against the last days. In view of that, we who look for justice must be patient. God is also longsuffering. He told Abraham, "...the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete" (Genesis 15:16b), and for that reason Israel was to remain in Egypt under oppression (an oppression that God used to prepare them).

B. How long are we to be patient (longsuffering)? James says "until the coming of the Lord." Then he says that great event is near. But he makes clear the fact that a "crop" must grow first. Clearly, prophecy has its own time frame with Him to whom "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). The analogy of the farmer demonstrates that God works in a process. Yet the process is sure, and who knows when God will bring it to completion? So we must always be ready.

C. The story is told of a hard-hearted army sergeant who gave a Christian recruit a very hard time. Coming in one night, he found the recruit praying at his bunk. The sergeant threw his boot at the rookie, hitting him on the side of the head. The next morning the sergeant found his boots standing by, neatly polished. It so moved his heart that he was converted that day. That is the longsuffering that produces endurance.

D. "Strengthen your hearts" James says. Yet we know that it is only by grace we can stand. Do the two blend? Yes, for we can strengthen our hearts only by appropriating by faith the resources of grace.

II. Is it possible to fight the wrong enemy? (5:9).

A. Sometimes people in distressing circumstances have a tendency to turn on one another. Such was the case at times among the Jews as they were herded into boxcars by the Nazis. James reminds us that longsuffering with one another goes hand-in-hand with longsuffering toward the trying circumstances themselves. We are to refrain from even the inward groaning.

B. Jesus, the Judge, is spoken of as being before the door in two ways in Scripture. Here He is represented as prepared to bring judgment on the oppressors (with a warning that believers by groaning against one another be careful not to fall into that category in spirit). In Revelation 3:20 He is pictured as standing before the door of the heart, seeking admission.

C. Years ago my wife and I approached the city of Winslow, Arizona. As we drove along we noticed this sign: "Here live 8,000 wonderful people, and a few old soreheads." Perhaps such a sign could be placed over the entrance of some churches.

III. Can we be happy while we wait? (5:10,11).

A. We are looking forward to the coming of the Lord. The prophets had even farther to look, yet they endured. We see a parallel here. Jewish believers suffered from unbelieving Jews. So did the prophets (Matthew 5:12; see also 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

B. Job had even farther to look than the prophets. The prophets are an example of suffering. Job is an example of the outcome.

C. Jesus is not mentioned here. He stands in a class of His own. Later, the author of Hebrews would encourage Jewish believers by the great "hall of fame of faith" (Hebrews 11). There also, Jesus was not included, but was set forth in His uniqueness in Hebrews 12:1-6.

D. James began his epistle by saying "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials" (1:2). These Jewish believers also had an example of the apostles, who "...went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41). Whatever increases the joys that await us and lifts us closer to them is itself an occasion of rejoicing.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to hold two pennies so close to one's eyes that one blocks out the view not only of the ocean but also of the sky itself. Just so, present temptations and distresses can loom so large in our thinking as to block out the entire horizon of eternal values. We must keep "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and.perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:2). So doing, we will encourage one another rather than turn on one another. As someone has said, "I took a look at the last page, and we win."

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POINTS TO PONDER:

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1. Discuss the parallel between the certainty that the early and late rains will produce a crop and the certainty of God's prophetic decrees.

2. How do we strengthen our hearts?

3. What does the word "complain" mean (verse 9)?

4. Discuss "the Judge is standing right at the door" (verse 9). Does this mean that James believed that Jesus was going to return right then?

5. Give as many examples as possible of prophets who suffered and yet endured (see Hebrews 11:32-40).

6. In what way are our trials "the Lord's dealings"'?

7. Since God is omnipotent, why does He not prevent Christians from being abused?