7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. 8 You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ashel Singh

Recently, I’ve been trying to make a really good smoothie – a balance between being healthy while also tasting good. I’ve tried so many variations, but now I’m at a point where I’m ready to give up. I’ll probably just keep visiting Boost juice and settle for paying $11 for a smoothie that it isn’t really healthy.

This passage makes me think how, as believers in Christ, we’re called to be steadfast, to show patience as we wait for the return of Jesus. We are to stay the course and finish the race. That means being ready to persevere and wait, just like a farmer has to wait after preparing their field and sowing their seeds – the harvest doesn’t happen immediately. God’s design encompasses a time-lapse between the work accomplished and the result granted.

In today’s world, we’re surrounded by the illusion of instant gratification – if you follow a particular method, you will get maximum output for minimal input, and with minimal delay. But James points to the example of God’s people in the Old Testament, where many times they needed to wait for years or even generations. Moses wandered forty years in the wilderness after taking Israel out of Egypt, King David waited for more than fifteen years to become king after he was anointed – and during that time he was fleeing from Saul. James talks about Job, who lost everything he had and had to wait without answers until God finally restored him. Prophets like Jeremiah didn’t live long enough to see the fulfilment of God’s promises. In all this, God was teaching his people patience and the importance of depending on him and submitting to him.

We too will suffer trials, we will be persecuted, bad things will happen in our lives. During these times we are called to wait patiently. But we can also rest in hope, because we know that Jesus died for us and rose again, so we know that he will return. That is when we will experience the true and eternal blessing that God has promised those who trust in him – and God’s promises are everlasting, trustworthy and precise.

So James encourages us to be patient “until the Lord’s coming” (v7). Let’s encourage one another to faithfully endure our trials patiently, without compromise, discouragement, giving up or turning away from God. Let’s remind one another that Jesus will return, and in the meantime, let’s serve the Lord and one another, meditating on the Word and trusting in his gracious control over our lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashel is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.