By Scott Hilgendorff / Cowboys of the Cross
Have you ever lashed out unfairly at a family member or a friend? Maybe you’ve even taken your frustration out on a rodeo judge who you know really did make the right call or gave you the right score. When we’re under frustrated and feeling pressure from situations that are outside our control, we can sometimes let our guard down and get angry more easily.
James 5:7-11 is taking us near the end of James’s letter but some of what we learn at the very beginning of his book in the Bible comes back to play. He first wanted us to expect trials in our lives but to trust that God would let use them to help us grow in our faith. He also warns us to be more careful about listening harder and being slow to get angry.
Knowing many of the people reading his letter have faced hardship under the control the wealthy landowners have and struggle with being poor, he asks those struggling to remain patient and not turn against each other.
Instead, he asks them to be patient, again trusting in God to see them through their struggles.
James 5: 7-11 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.
He uses agricultural language we can still understand today about the importance of patience as we wait on God the way a farmer has to be patient as he waits for the rains to come at the right times to bring about the harvest.
If we lose our patience and grow angry with one another, he warns them that God, described as Judge, is not far away and they could face His judgment for their own actions against each other instead of waiting for Him to take care of the ones who have been abusing their power and creating the hardships.
Job from the Old Testament, who lost absolutely everything and suffered almost unbearably, saw everything eventually restored by God and James reminds those who are suffering of the importance of hanging on and waiting on God.
We don’t know why some find relief in suffering or from their trials and some do not, but we know that all who have a saving faith in Jesus receive a perfect life where there are no trials or suffering when we pass on from this one.
Cowboys of the Cross is a rodeo/bull riding ministry that leads cowboy church services at events and maintains an online presence to share the gospel and make disciples among the ranch and rodeo community. They can be found at CowboysOfTheCross.com
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