Be Patient for Your Reward

Faithfully serve and be patient for your reward. The Master, Jesus, will return but we must be faithful by being patient for our reward.

I hate the “P” word and I do my best not to say it aloud lest God hear me say it. Here’s why, I know how you get Patience, and I’d rather talk about Progress, Prosperity, Purpose…not patience, and yet, here it is:

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

In the book of James, there are: 5 chapters, 108 verses…and out of these 108 verses, this little book of the bible contains 54 Imperatives and much of it talks about patience and persistence.
This shows that this is a very practical book that will help guide us in daily living. The Book of James is the very first New Testament Book written. They didn’t have any other New Testament Books of the Bible available to them. They were living approx. 10-15 years after the death/burial/resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, all these people want to know is “how do the scriptures & the resurrected life of Jesus Christ relate to my life – practically?” What do we do now?

Life was tough for the 1st Century readers of this little book because they are getting persecuted during this time. In fact, if you want to read about the various persecutions that were going on during this time, all you have to do is read Acts chapters 8-12.

These people were literally running for their lives!!! Their anxieties were HIGH! Fear is on high alert! They were gripped with insecurity, gripped with fear, gripped with confusion on how to live! Sound familiar! They definitely needed Patience, Wisdom, and Faith to guide them through their lives! So, what to do in the midst of life’s trials? What to do in the midst of life’s pains?

In the Book of James, James likens “patience” to the idea of “being content as you endure” through what God wants us to go through in our lives. Sometimes in life, people become impatient and they miss out on the fullest blessing that God intended. In America, especially, we have a consumer mindset – “I want it now! I want it fast! And if I don’t get it from you…I will go to someone else who will serve me now & fast!” It’s the fast food philosophy of life! And because this is the way we live now, we lack the ability (or desire) to “be content as you endure.”

But because God is all-wise, all-powerful, and never-changing, He knows what is best for us…and having everything NOW is not the best thing!

FOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TRIALS OF LIFE

1) Life’s Not Easy Just becoming a believer in Jesus Christ doesn’t make life any easier.

2) Our Trials Have A Purpose: producing patience, our trials can bring people to Jesus.

3) You Don’t Have to Worry: count it all joy (v2)

4) You Can Count on God!

God does not hold you accountable for being successful…just faithful to the end.

written by one of our partners in ministry Dr. Dick Ivey.