Patience Has Its Rewards
James 5:7-11 (KJV) says:
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Let’s break this down, verse by verse.
Verse 7:
We are to be patient in waiting and looking for the second coming of the Lord. A sign that will be given before Christ’s return is the last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As rain prepared the ground and watered the harvest, so is God pouring His Spirit out before Jesus raptures the church, just prior to the seven-year tribulation. This verse is telling us to be patient to reap the endtime harvest of souls.
Verse 8:
We are to be patient and have our hearts established in the Lord. Patience helps to establish our hearts so we don’t miss God and miss the rapture.
Verse 9:
This verse gives more detailed information about how not to miss the rapture. Basically, it tells us to get along with each other and be patient with one another.
Verse 10:
James gives us the prophets as an example of men who were patient. They spoke in the name of the Lord, suffered for it, and overcame by patience.
Verse 11:
James exhorts us that happy are the people who endure, and he reminded us of the patience of Job. The word patience in the Greek means endurance or perseverence. We are to endure without losing our faith in God, no matter what. If we do, we will see Him come through for us. A faith that endures to the end will receive from God. Patience and faith carry a reward: we receive God’s promises. The word pitiful refers to kindness, and tender mercy speaks of the Lord’s tender-hearted compassion. God’s kindness and tender-hearted compassion are rewards given to us for our enduring patience.
This passage in James is very clear about one thing: patience has its rewards. Let us endure and persevere so we can receive what the Lord has for us.
