By: Dennis Pierce

Scripture Reading: James 5:7-11

Introduction:

A. Parable of the sower speaks about patience. (Luke 8:15)

1. The parable teaches that a good heart is the one which will bring forth fruit.

2. We also learn that a good heart brings forth fruit with patience.

B. Everyone needs patience and have had experiences where patience could have saved a lot of worry and work.

1. Patience is called upon to bring up our children in the Lord.

2. It is needed even in such things as checking out in the grocery store or driving on the highway.

3. Life is much smoother with patience.

C. Patience is forbearance under strain and the ability to endure trials calmly.

1. Children learn this from infancy.

2. It is good to learn this in youth because later in life patience will be required in many serious situations.

D. James 5:7-11 points out the need for patience with God, patience with others and the reward that comes from patience.

Discussion:

I. Patience with God.

A. Patience is needed with what we have. (James 5:1-6; Psalms 37:7)

1. “Be patient therefore,” in verse seven of our text indicates connection with the previous verses.

2. The context of 5:1-6 is about the rich who have defrauded others to achieve the pleasures they are living in on earth.

3. We may be working two jobs just to make ends meet while others are dishonestly achieving gain.

4. We may want to blame God for injustice in life and therefore, we need to increase in patience.

5. The hymn, “Farther Along,” encourages us to know that we will understand this situation as we continue onward.

6. That is the connection of patience in verses 5-7 with the dishonest rich in verses 1-6.

7. We may have trouble understanding how the “meek shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) but patience will help us to appreciate just how true that is.

B. Patience regarding the second coming of Christ is needed. (7-8)

1. Two-thousand years is a long time, in our mind, and we may become skeptical about the promise.

2. This event is clearly taught and mentioned over 300 times in N.T.

3. We have promises that He will come again, (Revelation 1:7, Acts 1:11) and God is not slack concerning his promises.

4. Peter lets us know that His coming will be unexpected but it will happen. (2 Peter 3:10)

5. James uses the illustration of the farmer who patiently waits for the rain to nourish his crops.

6. This is how we are to patiently wait for the Lord’s return.

C. We should be patient with God because He is patient with us. (James 5:11; Romans 15:4-5; Lamentations 3:26)

1. Romans 15:5 describes Him as the God of patience.

II. Patience with others. (9-10)

A. The prophets are a great example of this kind of patience.

1. Jeremiah pleaded for the people to listen. (Jeremiah 7:5-7)

2. The nation’s continual disobedience was a tremendous discouragement to Jeremiah, yet he continued to preach.

3. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you, (Matthew 5:11-12) is a continual reminder for us to endure those who trouble our life.

B. We are warned not to grumble with one another. (vs 9)

1. Impatience about difficult circumstance can cause us to become angry and complain about everything in our life.

C. Patience with the imperfections of others is needed. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

1. Love is patient and love is kind.

2. When we see others, who will not get their life on track and keep making the same mistakes over and over, it becomes difficult to have patience with them.

D. Patience with folks not obedient to the gospel is needed. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

1. Changing a lifestyle may take time but patience demands our continued hope and prayer for conversion of those who know the truth but are slow to respond.

III. Patience is Rewarding. (vs 11)

A. The example of Job is used here.

1. Job lost everything but notice his attitude in Job 1:20-22.

B. Happiness follows those that endure. (vs 11)

C. Patience saves relationships. (Proverbs 15:18)

1. This is true in the home, in the church and with friends.

2. We can be hasty in our judgments without knowing all the facts about one’s behavior.

3. Proverbs 15:18 says, “a hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

D. Patience was a priority with Paul. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)

1. This is a very long list of the things that approved Paul and others as ministers of God, and patience is at the top of the list.

2. Patience rewarded Paul with a life of faithfulness to God, even in the most difficult of situations.

Conclusion:

There are so many rewards that come from patience, but the most important are written about in Luke 21:19 and Revelation 14:11-13.