Word@Work James45 - James 5:7-8
Published: Wed, 04/15/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
LONG TERM STRATEGIC PATIENCE
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. (NIV)
In the face of many difficulties, the early church needed to know how to think about their constrained circumstances, and the way forward. James is realistic - some things may not get sorted out until we meet the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of His return. That may be described as the ultimate long term strategy, but it is essential. We live between the cross and the crowning day of His appearing as King over all. In the same way that the cross is our reference point for forgiveness, the Second Coming of Christ is the goal to which all our efforts should be directed. That will be the day of our lifetime's assessment/appraisal. No wonder James wanted the churches to understand clearly.
In our 'instant' age, nobody likes to wait (Western style credit cards are one example). But the farmer must wait for his crops to germinate, develop and then mature, before he can get any income at all. He cannot accelerate the growing/maturing process, except to allow the rain to reach the plants and give it time. Neither can he control-out the hazards of failed rain. He has to wait. And there is a significant time delay between the investment (of seed, and the labour that goes into soil preparation and sowing) and the mature crop. Farmers around the world still carry this responsibility of an unguaranteed investment - and for some, crop failure can be catastrophic for the welfare of family, business, tribe or country.
However the Christian can be 100% confident that the Lord will return (cf Acts 1:11); and after He does, the painfully disturbed nature of this sin-parched world will never trouble the Christian again (cf Rev 21:3-4). So 'patient waiting' is the rule for every Christian - although waiting is not to be passive, but active. Jesus told a story in Luke 19:11-27 (do click the link and read the story online): He made the point that those servants who believed their master would return, were eager to engage in his business ; but the lazy one had no such confidence and did nothing with the money he was told to invest. The farmer in today's verse plays his small part, although he recognises that the timing and value of the harvest is out of his hands (a useful note for elders, evangelists and pastors!). So are you waiting expectantly for the return of Jesus? If so, are you getting on with His business in a way that he will approve?
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for this reminder that the return of Jesus should shape our long term life-strategy. Help me to do my work today with the thought of needing to account to Jesus when He returns. For His Name's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
In the face of many difficulties, the early church needed to know how to think about their constrained circumstances, and the way forward. James is realistic - some things may not get sorted out until we meet the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of His return. That may be described as the ultimate long term strategy, but it is essential. We live between the cross and the crowning day of His appearing as King over all. In the same way that the cross is our reference point for forgiveness, the Second Coming of Christ is the goal to which all our efforts should be directed. That will be the day of our lifetime's assessment/appraisal. No wonder James wanted the churches to understand clearly.
In our 'instant' age, nobody likes to wait (Western style credit cards are one example). But the farmer must wait for his crops to germinate, develop and then mature, before he can get any income at all. He cannot accelerate the growing/maturing process, except to allow the rain to reach the plants and give it time. Neither can he control-out the hazards of failed rain. He has to wait. And there is a significant time delay between the investment (of seed, and the labour that goes into soil preparation and sowing) and the mature crop. Farmers around the world still carry this responsibility of an unguaranteed investment - and for some, crop failure can be catastrophic for the welfare of family, business, tribe or country.
However the Christian can be 100% confident that the Lord will return (cf Acts 1:11); and after He does, the painfully disturbed nature of this sin-parched world will never trouble the Christian again (cf Rev 21:3-4). So 'patient waiting' is the rule for every Christian - although waiting is not to be passive, but active. Jesus told a story in Luke 19:11-27 (do click the link and read the story online): He made the point that those servants who believed their master would return, were eager to engage in his business ; but the lazy one had no such confidence and did nothing with the money he was told to invest. The farmer in today's verse plays his small part, although he recognises that the timing and value of the harvest is out of his hands (a useful note for elders, evangelists and pastors!). So are you waiting expectantly for the return of Jesus? If so, are you getting on with His business in a way that he will approve?
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for this reminder that the return of Jesus should shape our long term life-strategy. Help me to do my work today with the thought of needing to account to Jesus when He returns. For His Name's sake. Amen.
Why not share Word@Work with your friends - they can subscribe at http://www.beaconlight.co.uk/email
If you value your free Word@Work, click here to make a donation
which will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
which will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
All the 'back copies' for this series, and the series in Mark and Ephesians can be found on www.beaconlight.co.uk/email
W@WJames45 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2009 | Provided by BeaconLight
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk