The Book of James: REVISITED Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 5: Verses 7-12

Hello Friends!

This week we’ll continue to work our way through this serious “study” series solemnly surveying the powerful book of James in considering the TRUE calling of the “Christian” life as directed throughout this excellent Epistle – “Putting Faith to Work!”

The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 5: Verses 7-12)

⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. ⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. ⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. ¹⁰ Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. ¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. ¹² But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation – James 5:7-12

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Do “we” need to be reminded that we ALL have turbulent “trials” and absolutely none of “us” will escape them? NO! However, “we” indeed DO need to be reminded from time to time about the NEED to be personally “patient” pondering through each of “our” torrid “trials” tantamount in life. And that is EXACTLY what this wonderful section of “scripture” addresses. Being persistently “patient” in the manic – Midst of TRIALS!              

All the boisterous books, sugary seminars, solemn sermons, tremendous teachings, correctional counselors and pragmatic psychologists themselves can NOT rightly remove our torrential  “trials” within this waning “world” system. Absolutely NO one will escape this wretched REALITY revealed. Whether it pertains to a flat tire on the freeway to the death of a loved one and EVERYTHING in between, they indeed adversely affect each of “our” lives to “various” extents. This telling TRUTH is the righteous reflection of the caustic CURSE on the “sinful” and “disobedient” foolish FALLENNESS of maniacal “man” in kind. WHY? Because of the fatal – Fallenness of SIN!

For the “Christian” there is a unique form of “trials” of which the unbelievers themselves will NEVER experience. WHY? Because these are the “kinds” of torrid “trials” tantamount within personal persecution pinned for the TRUTH held in “our” glorious “God” Almighty! And the bold “believers” are surely “suffering” for the sake of the “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. This is a type of “tribulation” that the waning “world” does NOT have to experience. WHY? Because “lost” people belong to the god-less “god of this world” of whom has “blinded the minds of them which believe not” in the great “glorious gospel of Christ” and thus be SAVED through Him alone…

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them – 2 Corinthians 4:4

Therefore, “we” as faithful “followers” founded upon “our” Magnificent Messiah must eagerly endure the rampant “rejection” of a wholly HOSTILE society that rejects the glorious “gospel” message, even waning – WITHIN the Church!

Enduring THROUGH Affliction!

The Jewish jurisdiction of “brethren” to whom “James” was writing were specifically experiencing the TROUBLE of purposed pious “persecution” permeating from within their very OWN caustically crass “countrymen” of which made it quite difficult to bear. Thus, “James” cautiously CONDEMNS these ranking “rich men” for their harsh harassment of the bemoaned “believers” beheld. And this powerful passage speaks DIRECTLY to the chided “Christians” being personally “persecuted” for their firm “faith” founded in “Jesus Christ” and rightly REMINDS them of their responsibility to rightly UPHOLD unto a godly – ATTITUDE Attained!

Therefore, “James” provides for us SIX practical KEYS to being “patient” people:

ONE: To aptly ANTICIPATE our “Lord's” confident "coming!"

TWO: To rightly RECOGNIZE our “Lord's” justified "judgment!"

THREE: To faithfully FOLLOW our “Lord's” submitted "servants!"

FOUR: To uniquely UNDERSTAND our “Lord's” beautiful "blessing!"

FIVE: To really REALIZE our “Lord's” perfect "purpose!"

SIX: To carefully CONSIDER our “Lord's” choice "character!"

Now, let’s continue with these ENCOURAGING thoughts perfectly promoting the practical “patience” in varying sordid seasons of sure “suffering affliction” in life – Enduring THROUGH Affliction!

KEY number ONE: To aptly ANTICIPATE our “Lord's” confident "coming!"

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh – James 5:7-8

CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The Greek word for "patient" utilized here is “Hupomone” of which was previously back in chapter 1 is translated as "trials” or “temptations" and means to “endure” adverse circumstances. The SAME word "patient" provided here addresses the “enduring” adverse people. Therefore, the appropriate application for the called-out “Christian” contextually speaks DIRECTLY unto the “fruit-filled” ability aptly empowered by the Holy Spirit to be practically “patient” in absolutely ALL ailing contentious CIRCUMSTANCES considered. And here in this poignant passage it refers to being “patient” towards the “trials” of overt “oppression” corruptly coming FROM the rudimentary “rich men” outlined earlier in our study – Critical CONTEXT!

In the nation of “Israel” the main “rain” comes TWICE a year. And the “husbandman” plants in the autumn season and the “early rain” falls in the planting season of October and November in kind. Also, a sporadic rain falls in the GROWTH season through December, January and into February succinctly. But then the “latter rain” falls in March and April for the long-awaited HARVEST season. Therefore, “James” is saying “we” too must “waiteth” upon the “Lord” from the “early rain” when planting the tremendous TRUTH of our great “God” within “our” hearts “until” the lauded “latter rain” when a Holy HARVEST of His real “righteousness” is righteously received as such – Spiritual HARVEST!

Often times “we” eagerly LONG to go to “heaven” and it’s dearer to “us” the more that we “suffer” in this wicked “world” system. It's the personal PAIN of pressing “persecution” that causes this anticipation asunder. Therefore, “James” offers us a simple illustration of the “husbandman” as he willfully WAITS in eager expectation in a “long patience” purveyed for something outside of himself. The Greek term expresses a WAITING for the provided “precious fruit of the earth” to soon come. Thus, the heralded HARVEST of this hearty “husbandman” deeply depends upon the perfect PROVIDENCE of our great “God” in bringing together ALL of the necessary components of nature to INCLUDE the eager “early and latter rain” to cause the fresh “fruit” to grow. This is true of “our” lives as well. WHY? Because “we” too MUST be persistently “patient” as we exhort to entirely “establish” our harkening “hearts” held throughout the various “seasons” of life for the – COMING of the Lord!

KEY number TWO: To rightly RECOGNIZE our “Lord's” justified "judgment!"

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door – James 5:9 

Next “James” brightly beseeches the beloved “brethren” boldly to NOT garner a “grudge’ against “one another” in their “walk” with the “Lord” or they WILL be coarsely “condemned” by Him. WHY? Because living under a pining “persecution” can create all “kinds” of heinous HOSTILITY  towards the persecutor of which inevitably makes the offended person quite BITTER against the other people around them. Incidentally, people living IN such dire difficulty can become so EMBITTERED that they lose “patience” with their particular persecutor and quite POSSIBLY even pointed – Towards GOD!

Pastor “James” then warns “behold” the justifying “Judge” sternly “standeth before the door” Himself. WHY? Perhaps “James” has in mind here the fickly FAKE floundering charlatan “Christians” and could be referring to their final “eternal judgment” of dooming DAMNATION derived. However, even truly born-again chosen “Christians” will be “judged” for our “works” of sincere service unto the “Lord” lived out within – THIS Life!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: There WILL be an approaching “accounting” time for ALL regenerated “believers” when “we” will aptly “appear” before “our” loving Justifier “Jesus Christ” concerning the willed “works” to be righteously “revealed by fire” to rightly “receive” the looming “loss” or revealed “reward” from HIM in anticipated accordance with our SERVICE unto “our” sweet – Sovereign SAVIOR!

The ardent “Apostle Paul” taught the beloved “believers” reveled in Rome and Corinth that each of “us” will indeed ALL soundly “stand before the judgment seat of Christ” one determined Divinely appointed “day” pre-determined…

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God – Romans 14:10-12

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad – 2 Corinthians 5:10

Therefore “we” each MUST all solemnly “stand” before HIM to rightly “receive” our righteous “rewards” received OR to surely “suffer” our own “losses” whether “good or bad” in regards to our SERVICE unto the “Lord” for our FUTTURE life in “Heaven” yet to come – MARANATHA Lord Jesus!

In either scenario ALL born-again “believers” and the lost “unbelievers” will each PERSONALLY face the Eternal “Lord” and Righteous “Judge” of the entire universe – RECOGNIZE the Judge!

KEY number THREE: To faithfully FOLLOW our “Lord's” submitted "servants!" 

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience – James 5:10

When “we” are journeying through the many “various” vexing tumultuous “trails” and most painful sordid “sufferings” of life, it is IMPERATIVE that there is a mindful model to follow. Therefore, “James” indeed eagerly ENCOURAGES the bold “brethren” to truly “take” the proclaiming “prophets” of the Old Testament narratives by which they have “spoken” in the loving “name of the Lord” by an excellent “example” of the great “suffering” of avid “affliction” displayed through their lives. In fact, “Jesus Christ” Himself “gave” of His OWN life as the greatest Godly “example” for each of  “us” to emulate…

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you – John 13:15

That is EXACTLY what an ensuing “example” is to be! Therefore, “Jesus” Himself Sovereignly says to “do as I have done” and intently IMITATE the confident conduct of the “prophets” of old. WHY? Because they too surely “suffered” and were “patient” in their “trails” of most GREATEST difficulty. In other words, the “brothers” who wholly “belong” to the community of “faith” must fully – FOLLOW the Pattern! 

KEY number FOUR: To uniquely UNDERSTAND our “Lord's” beautiful "blessing!"

Behold, we count them happy which endure – James 5:11a

What “James” is saying here is to “count” the beautiful BLESSINGS of the “Lord” bestowed upon HIS people who “endure” abundantly. And this “happy” harvest of bounties themselves do NOT come to “God’s” people of whom DO these “great” things. Rather, they come unto “God’s” people who ENDURE these “great” things – UNDERSTAND the Lord!

KEY number FIVE: To really REALIZE our “Lord's” perfect "purpose!"

Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord – James 5:11b

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND:  Almighty “God” Himself has a perfect PURPOSE in each of “our” trying “trials” and sordid “suffering” in life! For instance, the “perseverance” proclaimed through the life of “Job” after adversely LOSING his frail family along with EVERYTHING he had “owned” was indeed one of the most familiar stories of Jewish tradition. WHY? Because it is the HISTORICAL heralding of a “righteous” realized man AND his caring “compassionate” glorious “God” considered…

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly – Job 1:20-22

And at the END of this luminous life “lived” in full, “God” indeed BLESSED the justified “Job” complete…

…So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters – Job 42:12-13

Through his “persevering” life of “faith” fortified, our great “God” had a wonderfully planned “end” in “mind” for “Job” justified – REALIZE the Lord!

KEY number SIX: To carefully CONSIDER our “Lord's” choice "character!"

…that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy – James 5:11c

Therefore, whatever “we” are going through in life, the “Lord” is very “pitiful” concerning our plight and is FULL of total “tender mercy” manifested EVERY day just as the Prophet Jeremiah eagerly expressed in his lament:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness – Lamentations 3:22-23

Indeed “God” has a MASSIVE capacity for complex coveted caring “compassions” considered. Therefore, “we” too each MUST courageously – CONSIDER the Lord!

STOP Swearing!

Making PROMISES to other people and wanting them to rightly RESPECT us can often times demand that we “swear” an outward “oath” of sorts. WHY? Because they may NOT really believe we are actually telling them the “truth” as such Therefore, “swearing” and giving “oaths” is nothing less than a DECEPTIVE device deeply devised of maniacal “men” based upon his “sinful” bent towards DISHONEST dictates. In fact, “lying” seems to have eventually became an issue in the “church” to which “James” writes:

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation – James 5:12

HISTORICAL HINTS: These jaded Jews were woefully holding unto obnoxious “oaths” of absolutely ALL types and was so much a part of the HISTORIC jaundice Jewish culture. And when “some” of them had simply named the nigh “name” of “Jesus Christ” in a vain “religious” pomp, they belligerently brought their silly “heaven” and “earth” ostentatious “oath” system right along INTO the true “assembly” itself. Therefore, “James” aptly addresses this wildly WICKED issue of selfishly “swearing” an “oath” outwardly head-on by saying that “above all things” we should NOT be surprised at his great concern of “God’s” glorious “judgment” guaranteed. Therefore, “we” must ALWAYS lovingly “let” our “yea be yea” and “our” high “nay be nay” consistently if “we” are to avoid our great “God’s” Divine – Deep DISPLEASURE!

We often invent silly little “oaths” and even in some cases promote CURSES imposed upon ourselves before “God” Almighty. WHY? Because “we” will often “lie” to people, having also “learned” in life that other people can NOT be totally trusted to keep their word either! Therefore, these “sinful” kinds of “oaths” were a pragmatic PART of the caustic culture in biblical “times” just AS they are with “us” today. After all, “unregenerate” humanity is designated throughout the whole of Holy Scriptures as the “children of the devil” and incidentally, “Satan” is the “father of lies” himself.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it – John 8:44

As a rank result, “sinful” people will go to unbelievable EXTREMES in an attempt to “bind” someone unto the torrid “truth” of their word. The fact is that ALL such actions are predicated on fallen man's basic “sinfulness” in the context of “evil” ensuing – Foolish FLESH!

In fact, “James” is rightly repeating his older half-brother “Jesus Christ” in righteously reiterating this great “truth” through the OPENING segment of His Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew:

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil – Matthew 5:37

And as “we” have arrived to this pivotal point in our “study” through the book of “James” it is quite OBVIOUS that he has diligently dealt with the “evil” potential of our sordid “speech” in absolutely EVERY chapter – STOP Swearing!

In closing:

BACK to Childhood…

As a child, did “you” ever truly TRY to coarsely convince somebody that you were really telling them the TRUTH? Did “you” ever say something like: "I swear to God?" How about this one: "I swear on a stack of Bibles!" Or what about this one: "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!" I’m quite sure “you” indeed ALL did. In fact, rest assured I myself have quoted these SILLY sayings a few too – MANY Times!

REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, our “speech” should ALWAYS be so honest and full of integrity and credibility that the only RESPONSE people will need from “us” is a simple “YES” or “NO” answer. WHY? Because that IS certainly the way it ought to be within the called-out “church” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” in kind – How About YOU?

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!

Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

Encouraging Concepts

Truth for Today

"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"