7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:7-11 KJV)
Patience in Suffering
Here, the apostle is addressing saints. From what has been said concerning wicked and oppressing rich men, occasion is given to administer comfort to God’s afflicted people: “Be patient therefore; since God will send such miseries on the wicked, you may see what is your duty, and where your greatest encouragement lies.”
Attend to your duty. Be patient (James 5:7), establish your hearts (James 5:8), grumble not one against another, brethren (James 5:9).
“Be patient—bear your afflictions without murmuring, your injuries without revenge; and, though God should not in any signal manner appear for you immediately, wait for him.” Christian patience is not a mere yielding to necessity, but it is a humble acceptance of the wisdom and will of God, with an eye to a future glorious reward.
“Establish your hearts—let your faith be firm, without wavering, your practice of what is good constant and continued, without tiring, and your resolutions for God and heaven fixed, in spite of all sufferings or temptations.” The prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous have in all ages been a very great trial to the faith of the people of God.
Grumble not one against another; that is, “Do not make one another uneasy by your murmuring complaints at what befalls you.” Those who are in the midst of common enemies should be more especially careful not to grieve one another.
Consider what encouragement here is for Christians to be patient, to establish their hearts, and not to grumble against one another.
“Look to the example of the farmer: He waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. When you sow your corn in the ground, you wait many months and are willing to stay till harvest for the fruit of your labor; and shall not this teach you to bear a few storms, and to be patient for a season, when you are looking for a kingdom and everlasting happiness?”
“Think how short your waiting time may possibly be: The coming of the Lord draws near” (James 5:8); “behold, the Judge stands before the door” (James 5:9). Do not be impatient, do not quarrel with one another; the great Judge, who will set all to rights, who will punish the wicked and reward the good, is at hand.
The danger of our being condemned when the Judge appears should excite us to mind our duty: Grumble not, lest you be condemned. Discontentment and complaining expose us to the just judgment of God.
We are encouraged to be patient by the example of the prophets (James 5:10): “Take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” The prophets, on whom God put the greatest honor, and for whom he had the greatest favor, were most afflicted. Those who were the greatest examples of suffering affliction were also the best and greatest examples of patience.
Job also is proposed as an example for the encouragement of the afflicted. “You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord” (James 5:11). In the case of Job you have an instance of a variety of miseries, but under all he could bless God, and was patient and humble: and what came to him in the end? God accomplished and brought about those things for him which plainly prove that the Lord is very compassionate, and of tender mercy. The best way to bear afflictions is to look to the end of them; and the tender mercy of God is such that he will make his people an abundant recompense for all their sufferings and afflictions.