May 25, patient and strong
So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
James 5:7-8
“Think of how the famer waits.” God’s Word describes with simple detail the posture of waiting for the Lord’s return. The emphasis of the original text demands the reader’s acknowledgement of this illustration (as the literal translation reads, “Behold, the farmer waits”). In our present lives, waiting can at times seem laborious and frustrating. The proverbial and childlike moan of “are we there yet” rings out from within our impatience that at times can dominate our mature perspective of truly waiting upon the Lord. In James 5:7-8, the message is to wait upon the Lord with the posture of a farmer – the posture is of one who anticipates rather than one who laboriously waits.
In the closing section of James’ letter, noted as final exhortations, the emphasis becomes a corollary to the opening of the epistle. His address to “brothers” is repeated some four times in this closing, and links the entire letter back to chapter one, verse 2 –the scattered and persecuted Christians of the first century church. The testing of faith seems to have been indirectly revisited as James offered such timely spiritual counsel for the church then and now: wait for the Lord’s return like a farmer. (This encouragement to endure patiently continues thematically through verse 11 and becomes the reminder of why James wrote this epistle).
There are several reasons why the patient endurance prescribed for the Christian bears the image of a farmer awaiting the harvest. First, the farmer (according to the agrarian culture of Judea) was completely confident in the promised provisions while waiting for the harvest. The rains would often come in early November after the seed was sown, and later in the spring while the crops were filling out (as God actually promised to His people, Deuteronomy 11:14). This historical reference was likely a very familiar image for most of James’ audience, and brought to the forefront of their minds the confidence in God’s provision demonstrated by the farmer’s patience. Second, the farmer always prioritized the coming joy over the present labor, as there was a time to sow (meaning hard and rigorous work), and a time to reap (the blessings of the “precious fruit”). The labor was never bemoaned over the joy of the return. The early Christians needed the reminder that their present labor through trials was nothing at all compared to the coming blessings. Third, the farmer knew that his ultimate goal was to trust God for that which was beyond his control. Yes, there was indeed the responsibility to labor through the process of cultivating and sowing, but the end results were always in God’s hands. And, the message to the church of James day was to trust God for the return of our Lord. And, this message of patiently waiting was to be a very positive and uplifting experience of faith, for their waiting was meant to strengthen them spiritually – “be patient and strengthen your hearts” (James 5:8).
Now, our turn (the application). There are challenges, temptations, and trials that seem to relentlessly attack faith. There are uncertainties and unknowns that constantly threaten personal peace. How are you enduring? How are you “waiting”? Hopefully like James’ prescribed farmer. Whatever you are facing, please remember that in your moments of sowing, God’s provisions are promised. Because of this, anticipate the joy of the harvest more than bemoan your present labor. And as you continue to labor, trust God. He alone brings the harvest. That is not meant for our control. So, trust Him.
Jesus will return. This is the ultimate spiritual harvest. And we await His return with undeniable joy. But until then, trust God for your season of sowing. There is a promised harvest even now (Galatians 6:9). Do not grow weary. Trust God. Stay faithful. Be strengthened in your heart.
Blessings.
READ
Read James 5:7-11 and be encouraged in your present season.