September 09, 2022 – Friday
James 5:10-11 NIV
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 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.
Comment
This is from the last chapter of James and his last mention of persevering. He started out this chapter rebuking the sinful rich and then how those sins will be condemned by God (verses 1-6). After that he uses the next three verses to set up verses 10-11 above, 7 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. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
With those three verses James provides real life examples of patience and how it is necessary. His use of farming would be something almost all of his readers would understand and have experience with, personal or through the culture alone. Then James made sure this has applications beyond farming or this life when he wrote, 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. You will meet with eternity soon enough, so be patient and stand firm. In case you did not really take this to heart James added a warning, 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! The Judge [God] is waiting to judge you as you enter eternity.
That may have left his readers worrying about what would happen at the end of their earthly life. So, the next two verses offer some real encouragement. 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 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. Yes, like the prophets, we may very well suffer, but if we but persevere we will be blessed. And to make that point as clear as possible, he brings up the story of Job and his perseverance. Everyone would know of the painful trials Job went through and his terrible losses. But they would also know how he persevered and received many more blessings from God. Finally, James reminds us The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
His concluding statement harkens back to chapter two where he stated, 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. This is always the case, for Jesus died on the cross paying the price for our sins, all to show mercy to those who would repent and believe. Mercy triumphing over judgment!
Bottom Line: How we live, how we treat other people, especially the hungry, the thirsty, strangers, those in need of clothes, in need of care when sick, or in need of visits while in prison, that is what we will be judged on as Jesus stated in Matthew 25:35-36, 40.
Prayer: LORD God, Help me to always remember to care for the least of my brothers and sisters in the faith. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek