Day 2130 – James – Wisdom is Faith in Action 12 – Patience in Suffering – Daily Wisdom

Welcome to Day 2130 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom James – Wisdom is Faith in Action 12 – Patience In Suffering – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church message – 01/02/2022 James: Wisdom is Faith In Action – Patience in Suffering We are continuing our series today on the Proverbs of the New Testament, better known as the letter of James. Before our Advent series and last week’s Christmas message, our previous message covered James 5:1-6 which dealt with  Warnings to the Wealthy, and we learned why wealth should not be our primary source of Thankfulness. Today we pick up where we left off as we continue in James 5 and focus on verses 7-12. This message is titled, Patience in Suffering. So join me on page 1885 in the pew bibles as I read the Scripture for today. I would recommend keeping this passage open as we go throughout the message today: James 5:7-12 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. Suppressing the Revenge Reflex We’ve all experienced the hurt of mistreatment and misunderstanding. Such hurts come in various forms— an intolerable working situation, domestic conflicts, overbearing parents, rebellious children, a treacherous friend, a petty parishioner, and a gossipy neighbor. Our natural tendency is to retaliate—to return evil for evil, an eye for an eye. Or we bottle it up and allow a slow, bubbling ferment. (Shake a bottle of pop) But God has a better idea than either bottling up or bursting out! James reveals this alternative. He tells us what to do when we’ve been wronged and how to do it.   James 5:7 simultaneously connects and contrasts with the previous section. First, James changes his audience from “you rich people” (5:1) to brothers and sisters (5:7). You will remember that James addressed oppressive wealthy people in 5:1-6, exposing their wrongs and calling for repentant humiliation in light of the coming judgment of God. Now, beginning in 5:7, James addresses the victims of their ugliness: Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.   James continues with the theme of Christ’s coming in judgment when he returns a second time. While persecutors should fear Christ’s coming, believers, anticipate it through patiently enduring suffering. Don’t miss that James has shifted to believers in this section. The man without Christ is frustrated if he tries to bring patience into persecution, mistreatment, or everyday afflictions. Yet, through the work of