A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 5:7-12

C2 The Christian life—Suffering James 5:7-12

D1 Believers Should Be Patient in Suffering James 5:7-9

D2 Believers Should Know About Those Who Have Suffered Before Us James 5:10-11

D3 Believers Should Know That Yes and No Are Better Than Oaths James 5:12

James 5:7-12 WEL Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look how the farmer waits for the valuable yield from the land and waits for a long time for the early and later rains. 8 Likewise be patient and steady your hearts, for the Lord’s coming draws near. 9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Look! The judge stands at the doors. 10 My brothers, let the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord be your example of suffering affliction and of patience. 11 Look, we consider them happy who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the Lord’s conclusion [to it], because the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not take a vow, not by heaven, nor by the earth, or anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, lest you fall into hypocrisy.

Another list from James regarding how to live our Christian life.

Patience=

• The Greek word for patience is μακροθυμέω makrothyméō. It means to persevere patiently and bravely (Thayer’s).
• Patience towards God to intervene in suffering. He wants all to repent.
• Luke 18:7 NIV And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
• 2 Peter 3:8-9 CSB Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
• This patience is a character and action of love: 1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
• Abraham waited for many years: Hebrews 6:15 NIV And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
• We need patience, too, in this world of evils. God gives grace. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 GW I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. 10 Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong.

Lord’s coming=

• What is this coming?
• Various opinions
• This is His coming for Christians, that is, the Rapture.
• To destroy Israel and the Temple, Israel, and the Jews that existed in James time. Then Jesus would begin His reign.
• But why would James want the Temple and Israel destroyed? There is no indication that he wanted such a thing. He wanted his people, his kinsmen, to repent.
• The people that James wrote to want deliverance from evil. The Jews aren’t the only ones who are evil. All people are evil.
• Some resources.
• Major Rapture Terms and Passages (pdf)
• Waiting for the Blessed Hope (pdf)

Judgment=

• We need to stop complaining.
• Judgment is coming.
• James 5:9 GW Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door.
• So, we want to warn people.
• Romans 2:7-8 GW He will give everlasting life to those who search for glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will bring 8 anger and fury on those who, in selfish pride, refuse to believe the truth and who follow what is wrong.
• 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 NKJV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
• Personally, I understand this as a warning to those who do not believe that judgment is coming.
• But many others understand the warning to be to Christians that we must live a life pleasing to God, because we Christians will be judged.
• Doesn’t make much difference though, we must persuade Christians to live a life pleasing to God, and we must persuade non-Christians to believe. Judgment is going to happen but there is a different judgment for the believer and the unbeliever.

In verse 10, James gives examples of those who suffer and are patient (longsuffering)

Endure=

• We are to patiently endure testing and temptation: James 1:12 NLT God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
• The Lord Jesus is our example: Hebrews 12:2 NIV fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Again, it is God’s grace that we can endure, but we also need each other to comfort and pray for each other.

Vows=

• The Hebrew words are נָדַר nâdar (verb) and נֶדֶר neder (noun). They mean to do or give something, and is a promise to God. It is understood to be voluntary and of a free will. Here is an example: Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 CSB When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.
• Making a vow is very serious and should be a rare occurrence.
• Our yes and no should be sufficient.
• If a vow is necessary for someone to believe, it might mean that we appear to not be totally honest.
• God honors truth. He does not lie; He cannot lie.
• What James is teaching is a reflection of the Lord Jesus who said, “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. "But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; "or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. "Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. "But let your “yes” mean “yes” and your “no” mean “no;” Anything more than this is from the evil one.“ (Matthew 5:33-37 CSB)

Questions=

• What is patience?
• Is there a difference between a Christian and non-Christian’s patience?
• Why are we to persuade others?
• Why is making a vow to be a rather rare occurrence?