Patience When It Isn't Easy - Part One

December 18, 2011 Preacher: Randy Smith Series: James

Scripture: James 5:7–11

Transcript

Patience When It Isn't Easy-Part One

James 5:7-11
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Pastor Randy Smith



When I share the Gospel with unbelievers, I have observed oftentimes the greatest roadblock is for people to understand their need for Jesus Christ. You see, if people fail to accept the fact that they are sinners, they will have no need for a Savior. I am sure you have heard all the lines: "I've never killed anybody." "I love my family." "I'm a good person." "I'm not a sinner who needs Jesus!" So at this point, I like to mention some of the sins that folks tend to overlook. At this point, I like to ask people if they have always been patient. To this date I have yet to receive any positive affirmations.

If we are honest with ourselves, all of us are guilty to some degree of being impatient, and there is no denying that we live in a world filled with impatient people.

It reminds me of the guy whose car broke down at a stoplight. Once the light turned green the horns behind him began sounding off in a cascading order. After frantic attempts to turn his engine, the car wouldn't start and the horns wouldn't end. He couldn't move and the horns just continued. Eventually he got out of his vehicle and walked to the first driver behind him and said, "My car has stalled. Why don't you try to start it and I will sit in your car and blow the horn!"

We all struggle to be patient and no matter how we attempt to justify it, impatience is a sin - it is a form of selfishness. The command from our Lord cannot be any clearer in James chapter 5, verse 7, "Therefore be patient, brethren." And in verse 8, "You too be patient." This is clear, but why here and why now is James stressing the need for patience in this letter to these believers?

I think the key is the opening word in verse 7, "therefore." Though it is a little hidden in the NIV version ("then"), a "therefore" in the Bible is always making a conclusion based upon what was just said. So what was just said? What was happening in verses 1-6 (last week's sermon)? You remember that the wealthy unbelieving landowners were abusing the Christians to whom James is writing to the point that these believers were unable to provide the basic necessities for their families. We are talking about severe tribulation!

So how should the believers respond in this trial? Application, verse 7, "Therefore, be patient, brethren."

Generally speaking, this is true for all of us today as well. We know that when going through trials, especially those that deal with other people, it is extremely difficult to remain patient. However, this is God's expectation and you will see why for your sake and God's sake as the sermon progresses.

What we are talking about is an attitude that when wronged bears up under the weight and deals with the situation in a loving and non-retaliatory way. The Greek word for patience here is "makrothumeo," which literally means, "long-tempered." The word is often used in Scripture regarding our response to the trials we face from other people (Mt. 18:26, 29; 1 Cor. 13:4; 1 Thes. 5:14). And again if we are honest, if I can take it a step further, we sadly need these "long-fuses" not so much with evil people on the outside, but the people we love the most living under our own roofs!

The sermon today: Patience with others who inflict pain in our lives. An insurmountable mountain? On our own, yes, but by God's grace we can be successful. So this morning from our passage I will provide six theological reasons that will give you hope and assistance in being more patient for the sake of your peace and God's honor.

1. BECAUSE THE LORD IS RETURNING!

The first reason we can be patient is because Jesus Christ is coming back. In verse 7 we read to be patient "until the coming of the Lord." This provides the time frame. We are to exercise patience toward one another until the Lord returns. Obviously after that we will have glorified bodies in heaven and the tendency toward impatience will be removed. Jesus Christ, the One who redeemed us, is also the One who will return for us exactly as He promised (Ac. 1:11; Mt. 16:27; Jn. 14:3; 21:22; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thes. 1:10; 4:16; 2 Thes. 1:7; 2:1; 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 Jn. 2:28; Rev. 1:7).

We see James mention the Lord's return again in verse 8. "Be patient...for the coming of the Lord is near." Did you know that the return of Jesus Christ is the next and final phase on God's redemptive timetable? In the grand scheme of things, we are (as James said in verse 3) living in the "last days."

But what is the connection with our Lord's return and our patience? I tried to get my mind around that issue this past week. Three thoughts came to mind.

The first was 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow about His promise [of His return], as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." With a world that has completely turned its back on God, the delay of Christ's return is the greatest example of patience that we could ever imagine. And why the delay? Because of love. Because of His desire to wait a little longer to see His people come to salvation. What tremendous patience!

When I consider what the Sinless One put up with me for those 25 years before I submitted to Him and even now for the 21 years since I have known Him, how can say I am a follower of Jesus Christ and not be patient with the fellow sinners that He has placed in my life?

Second, I thought of John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Jesus promised to return, but in the meantime He has left us with the Holy Spirit who has taken up full residence in our lives (Jn. 14:16-17). And what is the Holy Spirit doing in our lives? He is producing fruit. And what is one of those fruits? "Love joy peace, patience!" (Gal. 5:22).

Third, I thought of John 14:3, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." We have the promise from our Savior that He will return and take us to an eternal home that is beyond our imagination. On the scale of eternity this life will be a blip on the radar. Do you really think the little things that you get all worked up about will really be a big deal then? The King is returning to settle all accounts and bring you home! So as James puts it in verse 8, "strengthen your hearts" with this wonderful truth. My deep theological conclusion is this: Chill out and enjoy life, knowing that in the long run everything will be all right! Trust God's sovereign rule!

You see, if the promise of our Lord's return doesn't do much for us, it is evidence that we are simply just way too comfortable. When we are comfortable we often forget about the Lord's return. It's not a big deal. We kind of like it down here. But if we suffered as many Christians have throughout church history even to this day, our Lord's return would be on the forefront of our minds. As it was with the persecuted recipients of this letter, our cry also would be "Rescue us! Vindicate Your people!"

But even in this, we must be patient! Verse 7, "The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains." As the farmer waits for the "precious produce" we too must wait for the precious return of our Savior. As the verse says, the farmer is dependent on God's control of nature. It is out of his control. It takes time. It takes patience. But there is a confidence knowing that everything will turn out fine. True for the farmer. True for our Lord's return. True for most situations we find ourselves in that require patience.

2. BECAUSE THE LORD WILL JUDGE!

We need to move on. The second reason we are motivated to be patient is because the Lord will judge your actions. Verse 9, "Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."

Complaining! We are masters at it, especially when things are not going our way! When we are dissatisfied with life, when we are resentful, bitter, angry or impatient it is amazing how easy it is to grumble to other people about other people. I think miserable people just want the whole world to be miserable too! A problem today and obviously a problem back then as well. "Do not complain, brethren, against one another," verse 9 says.

I am not surprised that James mentions this because in my humble opinion complaining is a big deal. Complaining is one of the greatest church killers. People who never lift a finger attend a church function that many people devoted their hearts to and then walk away with only observing the negative. And then they solicit their negative opinions to others in the church. Great way to get people serving! Great way to promote unity! Great way to encourage a suffering church! Complaining is adversarial, diabolical and unbiblical.

The attitude that makes us distinctive followers of Jesus Christ is the attitude that gives nothing but good to others regardless of how they treat us. This is the point of today's passage from James: "I know they treat you like garbage (verses 1-6), therefore give them good, be patient with them (verses 7-8).

A classic example is a marriage. The expectations that God has placed upon spouses is to be vertical in obedience regardless of the horizontal treatment. The answer of, "I'll start loving my wife when she begins respecting me" is unchristian.

It is like the little boy that was crying in his room. When the mother ran upstairs she found his hair was being yanked by his little sister. The mother began to reprimand the girl and the boy said, "Mommy, it's OK. She's doing it because she doesn't know how much it hurts me." This is how we need to respond - with love believing the best in another. Unfortunately the story doesn't end on a high note. The second the mother leaves the room the crying now comes from the little girl. The mother turns around and sees the girl's hair in the boy's hands to which he remarked, "She didn't know how it felt before, but she does now!" You know, when we complain or respond with any form of sin because we do not get our way, we act like a bunch of little self-centered babies. It is not a love for God that drives our obedience, but rather a love for self that pursues its own lusts (Jas. 1:14-15; 4:2).

Let me give you another example. For several years much of what I heard was, "Wouldn't it be great if my teenager could go to a large youth group?" "Wouldn't it be great if we had a dynamic music ministry with several instruments?" "Wouldn't it be great it we had a core group of singles?" "Wouldn't it be great if we could do fellowships on our own campus?" I could give fifty more statements. I told you that in order for these to happen we would need a minimum of 400 people and a new facility. Guess what? We were blessed with both! Happy ending right?

Do you know what I hear through the woodwork now? "Wouldn't it be great if we were small and had more intimacy?" You cannot win! So I ask these people who want more intimacy: "Do you pray with us on Wednesday nights?" "Not very often," is the reply. "Do you have church people over to your home?" "Not very much," is the reply. And here is the big question: "Are you in a small group!" Answer, "No." You do not want intimacy; you want a reason to complain!

We are no different than the Israelites! Remember their time in Egypt? Placed under the slavery of cruel "taskmasters" (Ex. 1:11) and subjected to "hard labor" (Ex. 1:11, 13-14). They were "afflicted" (Ex. 1:12). Their lives were "bitter" (Ex. 1:14). They were physically abused (Ex. 2:11). Their baby boys were killed by being "cast into the Nile" (Ex. 1:16, 22). They cried for help to God (Ex. 2:23). Guess what? God delivered them though Moses and leads them to the Promised Land. Happy ending right?

It didn't take long from the moment they left Egypt, "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna" (Num. 11:5-6). "Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, 'Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?' So they said to one another, 'Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt'" (Num. 14:1-4).

Remember God's response to the Israelites? "Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled" (Num. 11:1).

Obviously, complaining is the absence of patience and it is also something that the Lord doesn't take too lightly because all complaints are a vote of no confidence in His sovereignty. In James 5:9 we see more affirmation at this point. You should not complain "so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."

That is an interesting comment! In the prior two verses we learned that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the unbelievers who are persecuting the believers and now we read that when Jesus Christ returns there is a judgment that will be upon believers as well. And one of the things that is mentioned in this judgment will be our track record of complaining. Guess this is a big deal in the eyes of the Lord after all, and I can't give you a greater motive to quit the tendency toward grumbling!

The judgment we are talking about here is what is commonly called the "Bema Seat" judgment. Eternal destinies have already been established. Heaven and hell does not hang in the balance. This is a judgment for believers only where we will be called to give an account of our lives based on our faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It is spoken of often in the Bible (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; Rev. 22:12), but possibly one of the best references is 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

You see my friends, we have to do something with the "works thing." The Lord Jesus Christ in the Scriptures has given us certain commands that are not negotiable. So what many have done (and wrongly might I add) is claim that obedience to these commands are necessary for salvation. That belief is unbiblical (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9). It is also impossible. We can never do enough nor can we remove our sin. God's standard is perfection. The only hope we have is Jesus Christ who lived the perfect life and then went to the cross to pay the penalty on our behalf. He gives us complete forgiveness. Salvation as described in the Bible is all of Christ, all of grace! As we do this Christmas season, it is God's gift to humanity! And we receive this gift on the basis of faith.

But though you may be accepted by God that does not mean you can ignore the "works thing." Jesus Christ has given us commands that are not optional. Enter the "Bema Seat" judgment for believers. Of course we all fall short, but the primary mark of a follower of Jesus Christ is a heart to obey. We are not permitted to take some of His commands and apply them when we are good and ready to do so! And being patient with others is no doubt one of them! There will be an end time judgment for believers.

You know, I am not surprised most Christians struggle with being patient - nothing here about "counting to ten." The first two remedies we looked at this morning are both lost doctrines in the modern church! How often do we think about the Lord's return and how often do we contemplate the final judgment we will face? You see, if I know Jesus will return and not only to rescue me, but to judge those who afflict me as a believer and that one day I too will stand before this Judge and have to give an account of my life, I have the greatest incentive to be patient with others. And how close is this return? From the perspective of eternity, verse 9 says, "The Judge is standing right at the door."

By God's grace through the power of the Holy Spirit I have no excuse. I can be successful. I can put off hate and put on love. Specifically, I can put off complaining and put on patience. I can honor the Lord in this area. I can have peace in my own life and harmony in my relationships with others!

Well, I made it through two points. We are out of time. I trust there has been some good application for you. I am planning some special sermons for the holidays so it will be a few weeks until we finish the remaining four points. The wait will be a good test of your patience!


More in James

February 5, 2012

Sheep Shepherding Sheep

January 29, 2012

Let's Close With Prayer

January 15, 2012

To Tell You The Truth