7/27/09 Leader's Guide

Uncertainty

James 5:7-12

The Week of July 27, 2009

Getting Started

The word “patience” occurs four times in verses 7, 8, and 10. It comes from two Greek words: Makro – large or long and Thumeo – anger. To have patience in essence means that one has a “long-fuse.” Would those closest to you say that you have a “long-fuse” or a “short-fuse?”

What are some specific things that you tend to be especially impatient with?

Digging Deeper

In verse 7 James refers to two specific circumstances in which his readers were to exercise patience? What were these circumstances (vs.1-5, 9)?

Verses 1-6 is a diatribe against a corrupt upper class who had used their power to oppress the poor in general, and the church in particular (cf.2:1-6). In verses 7-12 James turns his attention to believers in order to encourage them to persevere in the midst of injustices committed against them.

Verse 9 is correction of relational tension within the church.

Suggestion: It might be interesting to look at the relationship between external and internal stresses. How do external stresses reveal and magnify internal problems? How does internal harmony help to alleviate external stresses and problems? These two questions relate both to churches and individuals.

Since James seems to speaking of troubles that are unique to believers, spend some time discussing the challenges that are unique to you as a believer that requires patience. How are they different/similar to everyone else’s challenges?

You might want to carefully distinguish between hardships that are true of all people given the condition of creation (James 5:7; Romans 8:18) and those that are unique to Christians (John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12). For example,

We Have Unique Spiritual Challenges: Satan and his minions have made us their specific target (1 Peter 5:8; Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1; Luke 22:31).

We Have Unique Cultural Challenges: Given that our values are from the Kingdom of Heaven, they will constantly clash the world’s (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15). Some examples may include how we view truth, tolerance, gender, authority, government, sexuality, abortion, etc…

We Have Unique Moral Challenges: The Bible teaches us that upon regeneration, a civil war takes place in our souls (something unique to believers). Our new nature wars against our old nature. As a result, we are never fully satisfied sinners or saints (Gal. 5:17). Also see: Civil War of Soul: Some Thoughts on the Inner Battle of the Believer.

In verses 7, 8, and 9, James reminds the church of Christ’s soon coming as judge. How does a keen sense of Christ’s coming help to cultivate our patience with tough people and though circumstances? How do we cultivate that expectation daily?

“The New Testament contains over 300 references to Christ’s return—one of every thirteen verses” (Kent Hughes, James, Faith that Works [Crossway Books], p. 222).

Cf. Rom. 13:11-4; 2 Peter 3:10-13;1 John 3:3.

There’s a direct connection between what you are eagerly expecting and one’s behavior. For couples expecting a child, their hearts and homes begin to look dramatically different in the months preceding the delivery. For workers expecting layoffs, life becomes very different in the days leading up to termination. In both of these cases, the seriousness of the event evokes a corresponding preparation.

How does the illustration of the farmer waiting for harvest help to exemplify the patience James desires from his readers? What are some points of commonality between the farmer, James’ readers, and us?

During a considerable portion of a year a farmer (1) doesn’t see crops, (2) doesn’t experience the environment favorable for growing crops (this was especially true in their agricultural environment), and (3) yet is faithful to work the land and expects results.

What the harvest is to the farmer, justice and vindication is to the follower of Jesus. For the follower of Jesus (1) there may be no immediate reward for their devotion (2) or anything that suggests a future reward, and (3) yet they are faithful to God and expectant of reward.

James appears to have believed that Jesus was coming back in his lifetime and uses this conviction to move the church to face suffering well. Does this create any challenges for how we understand Scripture?

Some might conclude that if James believed and taught that Jesus would come back in his lifetime, and Jesus didn’t, therefore James was in error. By extension the book of James is in error. Here are some different ways Christians have wrestled with this topic:

1. James wasn’t referring to the second coming of Christ. James was referring to Jesus coming back in judgment against Jerusalem in 70 AD.

2. James wasn’t referring to the second coming of Christ, but to the rapture (which it is asserted, could take place at any moment).

3. James was referring to the second coming of Christ. Every believer in every age should psychologically expect his coming, even though it is a real possibility that he won’t actually return.

4. James was referring to the second coming of Christ. James was wrong in his expectation, but this doesn’t affect the inerrancy of Scripture because James (and the other authors of the New Testament) did not intend to give us inerrant proclamations about timetable of Christ’s coming.

In verse 9 we are told not to grumble against our brothers and sisters, otherwise God might judge us. Assuming that there might have been some legitimate relational issues, why would God judge us for grumbling against our brothers and sisters?

See Matthew 18:21-35 for one possible angle.

In verse 10 James implies that patience is strengthened by good examples. Discuss some of the prophets James might have thought of. How did these prophets model patience? Are there people in your life today that have help to model patience in the midst of adversity?

See Hebrews 11:36-40 for a general treatment of enduring saints.

In verse 11 James implies that we strengthen our patience by considering God’s character, purpose, and power. How does Job model this for us? How does a consideration of God’s character, power, and purpose for our lives help us to endure hardship (Romans 8:28)?

Since God’s character is good, then his purposes for us are likewise good. Consequently, his power (viz., God’s control of our lives) will be executed in such away that is faithful to his character and his commitment to us despite trouble in life.

Into Our Lives

Revisit the areas in which you are most impatient. Spend some time discussing with each other some practical ways of lengthening your fuse.