THE HOPE THAT MAKES US STRONG – James 5:7-8

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on August 29, 2012 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; August 29, 2012

James 5:7-8

Theme: Keeping our hopes firm in the return of Christ makes us strong in a time of suffering.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

Often, when a believer is suffering because of being treated unjustly, it’s understandable that he or she would say, “Why are they doing this to me? I just want it to end.” But all too often at such times, we become tempted to take action to make our trial of injustice end by our own hand—or to get even somehow with those who are mistreating us.

James wrote this letter to Christians who were under just such pressure. They were being treated unjustly by evil people who had the advantage over them (vv. 1-6). But what he says to them in verses 7-8 helps bring them into the right perspective. He shows them that hope comes from having the proper theological perspective—that is, when we look faithfully to who Jesus Christ is, and see the injustice we suffer in the light of His promised return. God, through His servant James, shows us that the strength that we need to be patient when treated unjustly comes from fixing our hopes on the return of the Lord and the justice He will bring about at His second-coming. We will be ‘long-suffering’ to the degree that we have our eyes fixed on Him and on His glorious return—putting good ‘end-times’ theology into practical application.

James builds this argument for us in three ways: (1) by telling us what the attitude of spirit is that we’re to have; (2) by then telling us what sort of perspective will give us this attitude; and (3) by exhorting us to strengthen our hearts in this attitude faithfully.

I. THE ATTITUDE OF SPIRIT WE’RE TO HAVE: PATIENCE WHEN TREATED UNJUSTLY (v. 7a).

A. James writes, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (v. 7a). In saying this, James doesn’t use the ordinary word for “patience”. The common word for patience (hupomonē) is one that means “to abide under”. That word tends to be used for a settled attitude of heart with respect to situations and circumstances. It’s the word that’s used in 1:2-4. But here, he uses a different word (makrothumeō)—one that means “to be long-suffering or long-tempered”. In our time, we would say “long-fused”. This is a the right word to use with regard to the pressure we feel in times of injustice.

B. Many of us—sadly—undergo a remarkable personality change whenever we’re in situations or with people that frustrate us. We can sometimes get a bit moody and grouchy. Our fuse gets short; and we need to exercise “long-suffering” with the things and people who frustrate us. Here, God calls us to exercise that same kind of spirit of long-suffering when treated unjustly. This would certainly be true with respect to our outward manner. Proverbs 14:29 says, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.” And Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” But it’s also to be true of our inward manner. As Hebrews 12:14-15 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled . . .”

II. THE PERSPECTIVE THAT WILL GIVE US THIS ATTITUDE: FIXING OUR HOPE ON THE RETURN OF THE LORD (v. 7b).

A. When James says in verse 7 that we’re to do this “until the coming of the Lord”, he’s calling us to look ahead and gain perspective. The ‘forward look’ is described for us wonderfully in Colossians 3:1-4; “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

B. James gives us an illustration in the second half of verse 7. He writes, “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (v. 7b). Nothing will grow without those rains; and impatience on the part of the farmer can do nothing to hurry them or make them fit his schedule. He must submit to God’s perfect time-table. We must do the same. We need to remember that for everything we actually see God doing, there are a host of other things—unseen to us—that He is also doing at the same time. When all the pieces are in place, we will see that all things indeed do work for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28-29); and that our patience will eventually pay off (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).

III. THE PRACTICE THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THIS ATTITUDE: ESTABLISHING OUR HEARTS IN THIS HOPE.

A. Just as the farmer must wait, James goes on to write, “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (v. 8). The duty of ‘heart-establishment’ is ours to perform. We do this by accepting that “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12); and not thinking it a ‘strange thing’ concerning the fiery trials that come upon us—but rather rejoicing in the fact that we may bear shame for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:12-19).

B. We also establish our hearts in this by deferring ‘vengeance’ to God. We must not repay evil for evil; but rather, make it our goal to live at peace with all men—even with those who hate us. We must “avenge” ourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord; and “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).

C. We establish our hearts by submitting to God’s sovereign purposes in the exercise of Hisjustice. We can become more patient when we remember that God’s seeming delay is— in reality—an act of His redeeming grace. As 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

D. Finally, we establish our hearts when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as our great example of hopeful patience in suffering—”looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:2-3).