Like A Farmer
The coming of the Lord is at hand…James 5:8
Therefore, be patient, verse 7. Patience does not come naturally. Well, maybe to some. But patience is a rare trait in people. There are times when we can be patient, but…
Thank God, it is a fruit of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law, Galatians 5:22-23. Without the Spirit waiting for the coming of the Lord would be impossible. We would be inclined to try to hasten the day. Some have tried; it didn’t work.
James offers some good advice: Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8.
James also offers some tough advice: Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! Verse 9. But we who lack patience, grumble. James says, stop!
James uses the examples of the prophets who suffered because they “spoke in the name of the Lord.” He also uses Job as an example of perseverance, who in the end saw “the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful,” verse 11. We speak of the “patience of Job” but do we pray for it?
Perhaps we already have Job’s patience! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law, Galatians 5:22-23. Maybe when we ask God to give us patience He says, I already have. Maybe when we ask God for any of these Godly traits God says, I have already given you every spiritual blessing, Ephesian 1:3: Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Again, James has cut to the heart of the issue. We are asking for things God has already given—childish. Therefore, we establish our hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand—A farmer always has something to do—so do we.
