| November 1, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 27
|
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:7-9).
The Christians to whom James was writing were suffering persecution and indignity at the hands of their unbelieving Jewish relatives, verses 1-6. Their Lord, the ultimate "just one" had been murdered by the Jewish elite. It is no wonder that His servants were also being mistreated, John 15:20. James writes to console and comfort the faithful Christians, admonishing them to practice patience in the midst of adversity. He promises that justice is soon coming to the persecutors and vindication to the righteous. The Judge is at the door.
Because God would soon bless those who remained faithful, they needed to exercise patience in two categories: (1) Active patience, keep doing what is right even if it doesn't seem to be "paying off", and (2) Passive patience, keep enduring what comes even though you don't "deserve" such treatment. The coming destruction of Jerusalem would soon vindicate their Lord and His cause. To make a more modern application of the principles, a righteous judgment also looms before us, Acts 17:30-31.
"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (verses 10-11). James cites examples of patient endurance and perseverance.
(1) The successful farmer waits for the harvest. The Jewish year began in the autumn. The "early rain" came in late fall, and was needed before the farmer could prepare the soil for planting. The "latter rain" came in the spring. Until the coming of the latter rain, the farmer could not expect his fields to be productive. So, he prepared the soil. He planted the seed. Then he patiently waited for the time of harvest. Likewise in the spiritual realm, "in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart," (Gal.6:9).
(2) The Old Testament prophets have set an example of patiently suffering persecution, and faithfully continuing to serve God in bad times as well as good. See Matt. 23:29-31, 37-39. The Hebrew writer refers to those who "were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword..." (Heb. 11:35-37). Jesus encouraged His disciples to endure persecution and to wait patiently for their reward: "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:12).
(3) Job is cited as an example of one who persevered. He endured financial loss, loss of family, loss of his health. He was falsely accused by his friends. His reputation suffered. Even his wife advised him to curse God and die. And he was at a complete loss for any explanation for his troubles. But he did not lose faith. He did not quit trusting God. He endured the hardships, the pain, the false accusations, and he persevered in doing what was right, even when the immediate results were sorely disappointing. But by patient endurance and perseverance, he lived to see himself vindicated, and his "harvest" came in. "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).
James cautions his readers not to grumble against one another, "lest you be condemned." Paul likewise warns of such in 1 Cor. 10:10-11. See Exodus 16:2; 17:3; Num. 20:2, etc. Grumbling, murmuring, and complaining accomplishes two things, both of a very negative nature: First, they ensure that the complainer himself remains unhappy, and second, they encourage others to chime in with complaints of their own. Don't lose your patience. Don't try the patience of others. Patience must be encouraged, not defeated.
As the Hebrew writer says in Heb. 10:36-37 (KJV): "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise, for yet a little while, and He that shall come will come..."
We need to be patient in well-doing. Keep on keeping on. We need to be patient with each other, not grumbling, murmuring, complaining. We need to be patient in the face of opposition. Put up with whatever we have to put up with, without giving up the struggle. Like the faithful farmer. Like the prophets. Like Job.
--CRJ
Several related responses to the Gospel work together to save a soul. For example, when an honest person hears the Word of God, he believes it, repents of sins confesses that Jesus is the Son of God and is baptized. These responses in this order are God's plan for saving a soul and are recorded in the New Testament.
Though one cannot do enough to earn salvation, our loving God has promised to save a soul from his past sins when he sincerely makes these responses.
But, sometimes a person chooses one of these responses and ignores the rest. Often belief (faith) is the single response chosen. However, God has not promised to forgive the sins of a person who only believes or has faith only. No single response alone will result in salvation.
God clearly stated in the Book of James that a person is saved "not by faith only" (James 2:24). Part of Jesus Christ's charge to take the Gospel to the world plainly shows that several responses, in this case belief (faith) and baptism, work together and result in salvation.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16).
If you are an honest person and desire forgiveness of sins, when you understand the Gospel, you will believe it, repent of sins, confess Jesus and be baptized. An honest person who understands the Gospel responses which God expects of him or her will not expect faith only to save. Dear reader, are you truly saved?
--Louis Rushmore
The best inheritance a father can leave his children is a good example.
In Matt. 7:7-11, Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Let us first look at a general application of this saying. We as human parents do not always do strictly what is best for our children. At least occasionally, we do what we want to do whether or not it is best for them. Still and yet, we would never give our child a rock when he hungers for bread, nor a snake when he hungers for fish or meat. Our heavenly Father in His unselfish character and infinite mercy always does for His children what is for their good. Note that this does not mean He always does what they want Him to do, but He does do what is in their best interest.
But perhaps we learn even more about the Lord's instructions by keeping in mind the context or setting in which these statements were made. In the first six verses of this chapter, he has warned us about harsh judgments and fault-finding, and has yet admonished us of the need to use enough discernment in dealing with others that we not give what is holy to the dogs or cast pearls before swine. How then, may we obtain the wisdom to know how to discern the things we need to, without going beyond our authorization in judging others? It is in this context that Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." We are reminded of James' statement in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
We might note also that the verbs "ask, seek, and knock" are in the present tense, indicating an on-going action. We should keep on asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.
--CRJ