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Trouble in this life is inevitable.
The universal experience of suffering reflects the reality that we live in a fallen world. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Acts 14:22 = We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. I Peter 4:12,13 = Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. And then, of course, we have this passage in the beginning of the Book of James: (Banner) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2,3 ------------------------------------------------- In addition to the normal trials of life, believers face a type of difficulty that is not experienced by nonbelievers. The difficulty is persecution for the cause of Christ. This is what Jesus said: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12 Six Helps in Facing Trials Patiently
James 5:7,8 = Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. The Greek word (parousias) that is translated “coming” was a common term. It was used to describe the visit of a king to a city or a province within his kingdom. The first illustration of patience is that of the farmer who waits patiently “for the fall and spring rains.” In Palestine the fall rains came in October and November soon after the grain was sown. The spring rains came in April and May as the grain was maturing. Both rainy seasons were necessary for a successful crop. Knowing this, the farmer was willing to wait patiently until both rains came and provided the needed moisture. Part of the job description of being a farmer is you do a lot of waiting. You wait to till, you wait to plant, you wait to harvest. We spend a great deal of our lives waiting. Waiting is hard. It seems like we are always waiting for something. ------------------------------------------------------- There are many waiting experiences in life that test our patience. One waiting experience is stopping for a red light. According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, the annual cost of running red lights in medical bills and car repairs comes to about $7 billion dollars. Did you know that the average amount of time saved by running a red light is 50 seconds. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The freeways during rush hour are a waiting experience. It is interesting that we call it the rush hour when in fact, cars are often just barely moving. Another waiting experience is the supermarket checkout. Then we have the doctors’ offices. Then we have restaurants. Have you ever noticed that the more expensive the restaurant the longer you wait? There are actually 5 different waiting periods when you go to a restaurant. You wait to get a seat, Then you wait to get the menu, Then you wait to place your order, Then you wait to get the food, And then you wait to get the bill. And then they have the audacity to call the guy that served you the waiter. We are the waiters. We are the ones who wait. Most people hate to wait. In v.8 we are encouraged to be patient and to stand firm. The Greek clause that is translated “stand firm” literally means “strengthen your hearts.” Be strong in your inner being. When our hearts are strengthened, when we are strong in our inner being, we will be able to stand unmoved by trouble. The reason given for standing firm is that “the Lord’s coming is near.” It could happen in our lifetime. There is coming a day when things will be set right. Our hope, as believers, lies in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Things will not always be as they are now. We are heading for that city . . . whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10) This is a great source of encouragement to those who are experiencing persecution and suffering. The more persecuted we are, the more eagerly we wait for the return of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, those who are living a life of ease and are caught up in the things of this world, have little interest in the Lord’s return. Jesus said much about His return. He taught that His return would be preceded by definite signs. He portrayed His coming as a dramatic, climactic event. It will be an event as striking and unmistakable as a flash of lightning across the sky. Jesus did not return in the lifetime of the original recipients of this letter or book. Nor has He returned in the lifetime of millions of other believers who have lived and died since. Yet, we are to live in the anticipation that He may come at any time. No one knows exactly when Jesus will return but we are to be ready. I believe this generation ought to be more prepared than any previous generation because of the signs we see of His soon return. Jesus was asked, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” This is what He said, “. . . many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars . . . Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24) Another help in facing trials patiently is to:
James 5:9 = Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Christians are not to grumble against each other. The Greek word translated “grumble” commonly means “to sigh” or “to groan.” It speaks of inner distress more than open complaint. This verse is not addressing the sin of loud and bitter condemnation of others. Instead, it addresses the unexpressed feeling of bitterness. Grumbling refers to a smothered resentment that may express itself in a groan or a sigh. Continuing the practice of grumbling will bring judgment. And the Judge is standing at the door. His hand is on the latch ready to enter at any time. Jesus is the Judge standing at the door. This is the flip side of the first point. The hope of the Second Coming of Christ does provide comfort in trials. However, the sobering reality that Christ will return to “judge the living and the dead” is a warning against grumbling against one another. Those who do not know the Lord will face final judgment at the Great White Throne and will be sentenced to eternal damnation. But even believers will be judged, not at the Great White Throne but at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 = For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. --------------------------------------------- Another help in facing trials patiently is to:
James 5:10 = Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. What was the duty of the prophets? What was their responsibility? Their responsibility was to help people change, to bring people back to God, to help people change their behavior. That takes some patience. The word “patience” in the Greek is the word macrothumos. Macro means “long” or “large”. Thumos is the word from which we get our English word “thermometer” from. It means “heat.” So macrothumos or “patience” literally means that “it takes a long time for you to get hot or angry.” It means you’ve got a long fuse. You don’t blow up easily. To be a prophet required great patience. In their position as God’s representatives, the prophets experienced great affliction. What was their response? They responded with great patience. The prophet Jeremiah stands out as one who endured mistreatment with patience. He was put in the stocks. A stock was a wooden frame with holes in it. As a form of public punishment, the prophet’s head and hands or hands and feet would be placed in this wooden frame. Jeremiah was thrown in prison. He was lowered into a miry dungeon. In spite of this, he continued his ministry. The prophets are a model for us when we experience difficulties. Hebrews chapter 11 commends a host of prophets who were faithful. The patience under trials exhibited by those faithful prophets should provide encouragement for believers to run the Christian race with diligence and faithfulness. Another help in facing trials patiently is to:
James 5:11a = As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. God has blessed those who have endured. People who endure are objects of divine favor. God’s blessing does not necessarily come to people who do great things. His blessing comes to those who endure. Those who will receive the greatest blessing in the life to come are those who have endured the greatest suffering for God in the present world. Another help in facing trials patiently is to:
James 5:11b = You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. Earlier in the book of James in chapter 1, verse 12, we read: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Job is an outstanding example of perseverance in the most trying situations. The incredible story of the endurance of Job in the midst of his trials was one of the most popular stories in Jewish history. Job played in the Super Bowl of suffering. He won the championship. Job was a very wealthy man. He had everything going for him. In 2 days, his world fell apart. Job endured unimaginable suffering. Job experienced fierce attacks from Satan. He lost his children, his wealth, his health, his reputation. He was suffering materially, physically, and socially. He was suffering in every kind of way. And then Mrs. Job, his wife, comes to him and says, “Curse God and die.” What a blessing to have such a supportive wife when things are at their worst. Job had his down times where he struggled with the difficulties facing him. But he endured. This is what Job said: Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him . . . Job 13:15 NIV What was God’s purpose in allowing Job to suffer?
The Bible says that God restored the fortunes of Job and increased all that he had twofold. The example of Job is an encouragement to us as we go through trials if we realize God’s purpose. His purpose is to strengthen us, to conform us to the image of Christ and, in the end, to richly bless us. Another help in facing trials patiently is to:
James 5:11c = The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. It is not unusual for those who are going through trials to question whether God really cares about them. But in all of our trials, we can take comfort in the truth that God “is full of compassion and mercy.” Psalm 30:5 = . . . weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. God’s loving purpose for our lives is greater than any problem we are facing right now. Even though a situation may be out of our control, no circumstance is out of God’s control. -------------------------------------------- I have a strong belief in the sovereignty of God. I believe strongly that God is ultimately in control. We can trust Him with our future.
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