Patience is a Virtue
Dr. James Smith
James 5:7-12
4 June 2006
Listen to this sermon.
Our passage this morning in James 5:7-12 is all about patience and much has been said about patience, while little has been done about it.
From the time of our youth, we have all been told that “patience is a virtue,” unfortunately, it isn’t a “strong suit” for most Americans, particularly urbanites.
One thing that I’ve heard many, many times over the years from people who live in rural areas is that city dwellers are rude and impatient. And by and large, the stereotype is true.
I’ve noticed, the bigger that city, the more impatient people seem to be. Take New York City for example.
I lived in New York for 5 years and all those stereotypes that you’ve heard about New Yorkers . . there mostly true.
I remember one time that Deb was at the grocery store and a nasty little “fracas” ensued at the bottle return machine.
Apparently one woman arrived just moments before the other and did not like the fact that she had to wait in line so she literally pushed her way to the front and a fight ensued.
Evidently, the second woman’s mother never bothered to teach her how to stand in line and be patient. It turned out that the manager had to come and break it up and throw the women out of the store.
James reminds in verse 7 that “patience is a virtue” and he gives us 3 pictures in this passage.
The first picture is that of the farmer. Now that less than 2 % of the American population is still engaged in farming, many of the Bible’s agricultural images are a bit more difficult to understand, especially for urbanites.
Having grown up for part of my life on a farm, I can attest to the fact that farmers work very hard and are usually very patient. They have to be, so much is out of their control. They can’t make it rain or make the sun shine or make their seeds grow any more quickly.
And so they stand firm and wait for the harvest time. James reminds us that impatience leads to grumbling and back biting and that we have a Judge who will return and call us to account for our impatience.
James also offers the Old Testament prophets as examples of patience. The prophets were constantly being chased and hunted down for speaking God’s truth to his impatient and disobedient people.
Tradition says that Isaiah was sawed in two for all his labors and John the Baptist of course, got his head chopped off.
The prophets were patient in their suffering and affliction and we as Christians should expect similar treatment from unbelievers, perhaps even from our own family members.
We are called to remember the patience of the Lord Jesus Christ and that “patience is a virtue.”
The third example is found in the person of Job. And on first glance, it seems to be somewhat “off.” Remember the wealthy herdsman Job and how God allowed Satan to rob him of all his wealth, health and children?
In the book of Job, this poor guy does quite a bit of complaining and griping to his supposed friends who try to convince Job that is all his own fault. (With friends like that, who needs enemies.)
But I think the idea behind it all, is that in spite of his intense suffering, Job stayed loyal to God through it all. Hence the old saying that when a person is patient under affliction, they are said to have the “patience of Job.”
Finally, in verse 12, we are reminded of the natural tendency under pressure to give way to uncontrolled and exaggerated speech.
The Jews of James’ day as well as the followers of Jesus had a problem. It was not an uncommon practice to shout loud and swear an oath to prove one’s point.
James reminds us that a patient and calm spirit is the godly way to go. We are not to carelessly and flippantly “swear to God” or by anything sacred that we are telling the truth.
After all, Jesus said the very same thing in his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:33-37. And the Essene Jews, of Dead Sea Scroll fame, added that the person who has to invoke God’s name to verify the claim, isn’t trustworthy in the first place.
But patience is a funny thing and I was warned early on in my Christian life to be very careful when asking God to give me patience, because I just might get it. Do you know what I mean?
We’ve already seen in James 1 that God develops patience in us through difficult circumstances. It’s not simply something that He gives, but helps us to learn.
While “patience is a virtue,” each of us should sincerely ask ourselves if we are willing to go through everything that it takes in order to learn patience.
Many years ago, an impatient 15 year old boy ran away from his father and mother’s home in Indiana. His father was a preacher and he found his dad’s rules too restrictive. After his father told him to cut his hair, he jumped on a bus and headed out to L.A.
A few years later and hair longer then ever, he helped to form one of the most notorious bands in the late 1980’s; Guns ‘N’ Roses.
While noted for his insane living and frequent bar fights, he helped to write a really good song called, “Patience.” The song is more of a confession than a prayer for patience.
In it, he reminds us that if we take things in life more slowly, everything will eventually work out fine . . . “all we need is just a little patience.”
Axel Rose who is a notoriously impatient guy is known for saying, “Patience; ya try to keep it, but it comes and goes.
Part of the problem is that patience goes straight out the window, when we get stressed or angry.
So are there any practical suggestions that I can give you on this topic? Take a look at your bulletin insert entitled, “Important ‘keys’ for maintaining patience & combating anger.”
Let’s Pray
