James 5:7-12 (ESV)
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See
how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about
it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also, be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. [9] Do not grumble
against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge
is standing at the door. [10] As an example of suffering and patience,
brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [11] Behold, we
consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the
steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord
is compassionate and merciful. [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.
Questions for Reflection
1. What kinds of experiences try your patience?
2. What good things in life are worth waiting for?
3. What do we need to do as we wait for the Lord’s return to earth? (5:7)
4. In what ways does God help us when we must endure suffering? (5:11)
5. How does God use others to build patience in our lives?
6. What makes it hard to wait on God’s timing?
7. What kind of changes does God want to make in us over an extended period of time?
8. What does it mean to stand firm as a Christian?
9. What lessons from Job’s experience can we apply to our lives?
