James - Patience in Suffering
James 5:7-11
Matthias Haeusel
Part of James
November 17, 2024

PATIENCE IN SUFFERING

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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. —James 5:7-11

Jesus knew suffering is an inescapable part of the human experience.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. —John 16:33

The Problem of Suffering

“If God were good, He would wish to make His creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty He would be able to do what He wished.
But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either goodness or power or both.” —C.S. Lewis

“The veracity of an argument is based upon the soundness of its individual terms, the integrity of each premise or statement, its overall logic.” —Peter Kreeft

God is omnipotent!

  • But God does not do things that are nonsensical or intrinsically impossible.
  • God cannot grant freedom of choice to humans and not grant freedom of choice to humans.

Free agents with free choices lead to the evil and suffering we see.

  • We cannot blame God for our evil actions when we chose them freely.
  • God created good. Man chose against God and therefore against good and introduced evil through his rebellion.

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. Just how had I got this idea of just and unjust?” —C.S. Lewis

“The center of me is always and eternally a terrible pain—a curious wild pain—a searching for something beyond what the world contains—something transfigured and infinite… I do not find it, I do not think it is to be found—but the love of it is my life.” —Bertrand Russell

James is not unaware or unsympathetic

James 1: Hupomone = patient with trying circumstances — Endurance
James 5: Macrothumia = patient with trying people — Patience

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. —Colossians 1:9-14

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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. —James 5:7-11

Be patient until the Coming of the LORD

The Coming of the LORD

Signs preceding Jesus’ Return:

  • Preaching the Gospel to all Nations (Mark 13:10; Matthew 24:14)
  • The Great Tribulation ( Mark 13:7-8; Matthew 24:9)
  • False Prophets (Matthew 24:23-24)
  • Signs in the heavens (Matthew 24:29-30)
  • Man of Sin / Antichrist / Rebellion (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10; 1 John 2:18)
  • Salvation for Israel (Romans 11:12+26)

Examples of Patience:

  • The Farmer
  • The Prophets
  • Job

God is compassionate and merciful

God has a purpose for your pain

  • Reveals our Faith
  • Pushes us to our knees
  • Dispels the illusion that we are in control
  • Drives us into the arms of God
  • Strips away other objects of faith and trust
  • Resets our priorities
  • Helps us have empathy for others
  • Helps us comfort the broken-hearted
  • Grow us in Humility
  • Weans us of the pleasures of this world
  • Reveals that the world is broken and not our home
  • Instills in us the hope of Heaven

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” —C.S.Lewis