Day 11: James 5:7–12 - Be Patient in Suffering: The Greatest Commandment

Hudson Taylor would tell those who wanted to be missionaries to China that there were three indispensable requirements for a missionary:

1. Patience
2. Patience
3. Patience

Whether we want to be a missionary, pastor, deacon, parent, spouse, or even a friend, we all recognize the need for character to be all that God wants in those roles.  The question is how do we know if someone has character and how do we ourselves grow in character?  The Bible says it's patience we look for - it's the secret ingredient in the recipe to make character.  Look at your own testimonies - how has God met you in the valleys, not the mountain tops?  Athletes don't quit at the first sign of pain - they suffer through those moments for a greater benefit. It all begins with a resolve to pray, along with Christ, "not as I will but thy will be done."

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5

Love is first, above other qualities, described as being patient in 1 Corinthians 13:4.  If so, then it goes without saying that being patient is a major part of the greatest command of the Bible - both in loving God and others.  This means that there is no such thing as a loving person who is not also patient.  To grow in love is to grow in patience.  If we want to grow to love God and others more and obey the greatest commandment of scripture, we will need to go through the crucible of suffering to make it so.  There are no shortcuts.  Oh but the joy of meeting with God in the valleys.  Character is born out of experience that God will be there for us in our suffering - giving us confidence and courage for what lies ahead. 

"6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:6-9

This is love - this is patience - this is the path for the Christian.

Posted by Henry Jung on 6/12/2016

Comments

I agree that a loving person is also a patient person. Those who need the most love are also those who we can be the least patient with. All the more reason that we need God's help to genuinely love others.

Jeanni Eun on 6/13/2016 at 12:36 PM

We can see God's faithfulness through his longsuffering and patience both for the people in the Bible as well as today's people - us, even nonbelievers:

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 1 Peter 3:9

In light of God's faithfulness, we can be patient for his promises of sanctification and ultimate good in our lives.

Chris Moon on 6/14/2016 at 12:20 AM

A loving person is also patient. This strikes hard. It's so much easier to lash out than to take time to walk/talk it out. The inconvenience of taking time out of my day to show love to someone else.

What caught my attention in this passage was verse 12. It seems so out of place after James talks about patience and love.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

It seems so out of place. It's like James is saying, "Show love by being patient. Those who persevered through it all are always blessed. Oh! By the way, make sure what you say is what you mean." I think this also means to advise people to not be fake with their love. Don't just say, "I love you." Show it through your actions that what you say is what you believe to be true and don't sway your responses to become a people pleaser; this is also showing love to others.

Diana Lim on 6/16/2016 at 7:59 AM