David prayed in PS 40:1 and said,” I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Patience is a virtue it is hard for us. We dislike the long lines at super-market checkout counters, and the traffic jams downtown and around the shopping malls. We hate to wait at the bank or at a restaurant. Then there are the harder waits; a couple waiting for a child; a single person waiting for marriage; an addict waiting for deliverance; a spouse waiting for a kind and gentle word; a worried patient waiting for a diagnosis from a doctor a pastor waiting for the church to mature.

Patience is hard for people who are exposed to the One-Hour Photo Shop, take their clothes to the One-Hour Cleaners, and get breakfast at a drive-through window. We cook dinner in micro-wave ovens and slug down remedies that offer “fast, fast relief. Our culture has become an “instant” society. That is not necessarily bad, but we must safeguard against becoming so set on immediate fulfillment that we don’t wait for God’s timing. In fact we rush things with God…

I read recently there is a church in Florida that advertises 22 minute services. Go there and they promise that in 22 minutes it will all be over, and you’ll be out of there. The sermons are only 8 minutes long…” This is why we can’t wait for correction to our markets.

Hymn-writer Phillips Brooks admitted, “The hardest task in my life is to sit down and wait for God to catch up with me.” Yet patience is part of God’s strategy for maturing us as Christians. It’s a lost skill we all need to cultivate.

Patience is a necessary character trait if you want peace and perseverance for your life. It is the fruit of the spirit and one must practice patience. Patience can be developed by the Spirit of God if the person desires to give themselves to the Lord and learn from Him. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”

It’s easy to lose patience in times of great trial. That is what James is talking about. James gives us 3 examples of patient endurance, the first is…

I The Farmer (verses 7-9)

1. “Therefore” refers back to the trials and injustices inflicted on them by the rich. The word patience comes from a compound Greek word (ma’kros) “long” and “temper” (thymos). The idea is to set the timer of one’s temper for a long run. Think long. Focus on the final lap in the race of life. Have a long temperament and be looking ahead to the Lord’s coming.

2. He gives an example of the farmer. If you are an impatient person you shouldn’t be a farmer. They must be patient. They must be patient with the soil. The farmer must plan and labor preparing the soil to sow the seeds. The Jewish farmer would do this after the early rains. They must be patient with the seed. After the soil is prepared and the seed sowed, they must be patient with the season and wait on God. God gives the increase.

3. Verse 7 tells us because the fruit is “precious”, precious means costly. The harvest will bring reward. James is picturing the Christian here as a spiritual farmer, waiting for a spiritual harvest.

He reminds the Christian, the secret to endurance when the going gets tough, is that God is producing a harvest in our lives. He desires the fruit of our spirit to grow. The Lord’s return should stimulate every believer to patience, persistence and perseverance.

From the earliest stages of their faith these Jews were taught that Jesus was coming back soon. They lived with the expectancy of his imminent return. As far as they were concerned at any minute the sky might open up and Jesus would return as he promise he would. We ought to live expecting the Lord’s return and to wait patiently on the Lord. Psalm 37:7….

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

So many times in our Christian walk we become impatient – Impatient with God. Let God have His perfect timing. He will complete in you what He desires in His time. — Phil.2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The Lord is not done working on you and the same is true of others. James exhorts these believers not to “grumble against one another but to be patience with each other.”

 Verse # 9– Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

4. Grudge not–rather “Murmur not”; “grumble not.” The Greek is literally, “groan”: a half-suppressed murmur of impatience and harsh judgment, not uttered aloud or freely. Having exhorted them to patience in bearing wrongs from the wicked, he now exhorts them to a forbearing spirit as to the offenses given by brethren.

Folks, when you become impatient with God, it will flow out against others. We will be impatient with others. The people we live with, work with, recreate with, and worship with. We need this type of patience to be a godly witness to the world. One of the marks of impatience is to grumble and complain. —Do all things without murmurings and disputing’s: Phil 2:14

Illustration: A man’s car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to restart the engine failed, and a man honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. I tell you what – if you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and lean on your horn for you.” James gives another illustration of:

II. The Prophets (verse 10)

1. These early believers would have been familiar with this example of Old Testament prophets. When we read how these faithful servants suffered it offers us encouragement. This encouragement comes from knowing that God is in control.

These prophets encourage us by showing they were in the will of God, yet they suffered. They were proclaiming their message in “the name of the Lord.” Pain and suffering is sometimes due to your faithfulness to God. But how many of us can truly say that? The prophets encourage us by reminding us that God cares for those who suffer for His sake.

2. Someone once said “the will of God will not lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. Remember the apostle Paul said; “God’s grace is sufficient.” James last example is…

III. Job (verse 11-12)

1. Job is the classic example of a man that patiently endured suffering and was blessed by God for his persevering faith. James reminds the believers there are blessings for those who persevere. Job lost all he had except a nagging wife and judgmental and non- supporting friends. Job did not understand what the cause of his sufferings was. He did not know what was going on behind the scenes with God and Satan, yet Job endured.

Too many Christians today whine and complain over inconveniences, slights, and minor afflictions. What will they do when they must stand firm in persecution or acute physical suffering?

2. Verse 12 seems to be out of place in the context of James’ message. But think for a moment, how often during trials and suffering do we get impatience and swear to god. He’s talking about promises made in trials that are forgotten as soon as the trial is past.

Such swearing is wrong, James says, because it makes some speech more reliable than others, whereas all of a Christian’s speech should be equally truthful and known by others to be dependable. We need to practice patience before speaking. Job did curse the day he was born (Job 3:1), but he never cursed God or spoke with a foolish oath. Neither did he try to bargain with God.

Conclusion:

We can be thankful God is patient. We can be thankful God is long suffering. We can be thankful He has a long fuse and He’s long tempered because as Peter says in II Peter 3:15. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you

 We need to be thankful that our God is long suffering, long tempered, very patient. 

Patience is the trait that displays tolerance, compassion, understanding, and acceptance toward those who are slower than you in developing maturity, emotional freedom, and coping abilities. Patience is the ability to remain calm in the midst of turmoil because you know God is in control.