Embracing Patience: A Spiritual Discipline for Life
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, brothers and sisters. Today, we delve into the profound wisdom found in James 5:7-11, which speaks to the virtue of patience. James, the brother of Jesus and a foundational figure in the early church, offers us wisdom literature that is universally applicable, regardless of our background or beliefs. Wisdom, as James presents it, is a practical guide to living a life that reflects the teachings and character of Jesus.
James begins by urging us to be patient, likening our patience to that of a farmer waiting for the land to yield its valuable crop. This patience is not passive but active, involving a steadfastness and a willingness to endure suffering. The Greek word for patience, "macro tho," literally means long-suffering, indicating a prolonged endurance of hardship without giving in to anger or frustration.
In our fast-paced world, especially in a city like New York, patience is a rare commodity. We live in a culture that values speed and efficiency, often at the expense of our mental and spiritual well-being. The pressure to succeed quickly can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impatience. This impatience can manifest in various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships, and can lead us to make hasty decisions that we later regret.
James provides us with examples from the Bible to illustrate the importance of patience. He points to the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and to Job, who endured immense suffering yet remained steadfast. These examples remind us that patience is not just a moral teaching but a spiritual discipline rooted in the character of God. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, and it is this divine compassion that should inspire our patience.
The early Christians, including Peter, also emphasized the importance of patience. Peter writes that the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise but is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. This divine patience is a model for us to emulate in our own lives.
One of the most poignant illustrations of patience comes from the life of Jesus. Jesus, who could have chosen to come into the world at any time, chose a period when travel was slow and arduous. He walked at a pace of three miles an hour, embodying the slow, deliberate nature of divine love. This "three M an hour God" invites us to slow down and embrace a spirituality that is not rushed but is deeply rooted in patience and compassion.
In our modern context, the wisdom of patience is countercultural. We are often driven by a desire for quick results and immediate gratification. However, true wisdom, as James teaches, involves a balance of ambition and surrender. Like a farmer who has done all the necessary work but must still wait for the rains, we too must learn to do our part and then patiently wait for God's timing.
The Serenity Prayer, often recited in 12-step meetings, encapsulates this wisdom beautifully. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to exercise patience and surrender to God's will.
In conclusion, the invitation to patience is not about passivity or inaction. It is about standing firm in our faith, trusting in God's compassion and mercy, and waiting for His perfect timing. As we navigate the challenges and pressures of our lives, let us remember the examples of patience provided by the prophets, Job, and Jesus Himself. Let us strive to embody this divine patience in our own lives, trusting that the Lord's coming is near and that His compassion and mercy are ever-present.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Virtue of Patience: Patience is not merely a passive waiting but an active endurance, akin to a farmer waiting for the land to yield its valuable crop. This patience involves a steadfastness and a willingness to endure suffering without giving in to anger or frustration. It is a spiritual discipline that reflects the character of God, who is full of compassion and mercy. [00:31]
2. Cultural Pressures and Impatience: In our fast-paced world, especially in cities like New York, the pressure to succeed quickly can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impatience. This impatience can manifest in various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships, and can lead us to make hasty decisions that we later regret. The wisdom of patience is countercultural and requires a balance of ambition and surrender. [06:44]
3. Biblical Examples of Patience: James provides us with examples from the Bible, such as the prophets and Job, to illustrate the importance of patience. These examples remind us that patience is not just a moral teaching but a spiritual discipline rooted in the character of God. The Lord's compassion and mercy should inspire our patience, as we trust in His perfect timing. [24:11]
4. Jesus as the Model of Patience: Jesus, who could have chosen to come into the world at any time, chose a period when travel was slow and arduous. He walked at a pace of three miles an hour, embodying the slow, deliberate nature of divine love. This "three M an hour God" invites us to slow down and embrace a spirituality that is not rushed but is deeply rooted in patience and compassion. [14:08]
5. The Serenity Prayer and Surrender: The Serenity Prayer encapsulates the wisdom of patience beautifully. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to exercise patience and surrender to God's will. [30:37]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - The Virtue of Patience
[01:06] - Wisdom Literature and Practical Living
[02:33] - The Farmer's Patience
[06:44] - Cultural Pressures and Impatience
[14:08] - Jesus as the Model of Patience
[17:10] - Tim Keller's Example
[19:03] - The Danger of Grumbling
[24:11] - Biblical Examples of Patience
[25:24] - Compassion and Mercy
[27:54] - Peter's Perspective
[30:37] - The Serenity Prayer and Surrender
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. James 5:7-11 (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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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.
2. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
> The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
3. Matthew 14:14 (ESV)
> When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
### Observation Questions
1. According to James 5:7-11, what analogy does James use to describe patience, and what does this analogy teach us about the nature of patience?
2. In James 5:7-11, what examples does James provide to illustrate patience, and what do these examples have in common?
3. How does 2 Peter 3:9 describe the Lord's patience, and what is the purpose of this patience?
4. What does Matthew 14:14 reveal about Jesus' response to the crowd, and how does this demonstrate His compassion?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James compare patience to a farmer waiting for the crop? What does this analogy suggest about the relationship between effort and waiting?
2. How do the examples of the prophets and Job in James 5:7-11 help us understand the spiritual discipline of patience?
3. What does 2 Peter 3:9 imply about God's character and His desires for humanity?
4. How does Jesus' compassion in Matthew 14:14 reflect the nature of divine love and patience?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you are struggling to be patient. How can the analogy of the farmer in James 5:7-11 help you approach this situation differently?
2. Think of a time when you felt pressured to achieve something quickly. How can the examples of the prophets and Job inspire you to practice patience in your current circumstances?
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to surrender control and wait for God's timing. What steps can you take this week to actively practice this surrender?
4. Consider someone in your life who tests your patience. How can you show them compassion and patience, following the example of Jesus in Matthew 14:14?
5. Reflect on the Serenity Prayer. What is one specific area in your life where you need to accept what you cannot change, and how can you seek God's wisdom to know the difference?
Devotional
Day 1: The Virtue of Patience
Patience is not merely a passive waiting but an active endurance, akin to a farmer waiting for the land to yield its valuable crop. This patience involves a steadfastness and a willingness to endure suffering without giving in to anger or frustration. It is a spiritual discipline that reflects the character of God, who is full of compassion and mercy. In our fast-paced world, especially in cities like New York, the pressure to succeed quickly can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impatience. This impatience can manifest in various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships, and can lead us to make hasty decisions that we later regret. The wisdom of patience is countercultural and requires a balance of ambition and surrender.
James provides us with examples from the Bible, such as the prophets and Job, to illustrate the importance of patience. These examples remind us that patience is not just a moral teaching but a spiritual discipline rooted in the character of God. The Lord's compassion and mercy should inspire our patience, as we trust in His perfect timing. [00:31]
James 5:7-8 (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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you are feeling impatient. How can you actively practice patience and trust in God's timing today?
Day 2: Cultural Pressures and Impatience
In our fast-paced world, especially in cities like New York, the pressure to succeed quickly can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impatience. This impatience can manifest in various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships, and can lead us to make hasty decisions that we later regret. The wisdom of patience is countercultural and requires a balance of ambition and surrender.
James provides us with examples from the Bible, such as the prophets and Job, to illustrate the importance of patience. These examples remind us that patience is not just a moral teaching but a spiritual discipline rooted in the character of God. The Lord's compassion and mercy should inspire our patience, as we trust in His perfect timing. [06:44]
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV): "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where cultural pressures are causing you to feel impatient. How can you surrender this area to God and seek His wisdom for balance?
Day 3: Biblical Examples of Patience
James provides us with examples from the Bible, such as the prophets and Job, to illustrate the importance of patience. These examples remind us that patience is not just a moral teaching but a spiritual discipline rooted in the character of God. The Lord's compassion and mercy should inspire our patience, as we trust in His perfect timing.
The early Christians, including Peter, also emphasized the importance of patience. Peter writes that the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise but is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. This divine patience is a model for us to emulate in our own lives. [24:11]
Hebrews 6:12 (ESV): "So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Reflection: Reflect on a biblical figure who exemplified patience. How can their example inspire you to cultivate patience in your own life?
Day 4: Jesus as the Model of Patience
Jesus, who could have chosen to come into the world at any time, chose a period when travel was slow and arduous. He walked at a pace of three miles an hour, embodying the slow, deliberate nature of divine love. This "three M an hour God" invites us to slow down and embrace a spirituality that is not rushed but is deeply rooted in patience and compassion.
In our modern context, the wisdom of patience is countercultural. We are often driven by a desire for quick results and immediate gratification. However, true wisdom, as James teaches, involves a balance of ambition and surrender. Like a farmer who has done all the necessary work but must still wait for the rains, we too must learn to do our part and then patiently wait for God's timing. [14:08]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: Consider the pace of your life. How can you slow down and embrace a more deliberate, patient approach to your daily activities?
Day 5: The Serenity Prayer and Surrender
The Serenity Prayer encapsulates the wisdom of patience beautifully. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to exercise patience and surrender to God's will.
In conclusion, the invitation to patience is not about passivity or inaction. It is about standing firm in our faith, trusting in God's compassion and mercy, and waiting for His perfect timing. As we navigate the challenges and pressures of our lives, let us remember the examples of patience provided by the prophets, Job, and Jesus Himself. Let us strive to embody this divine patience in our own lives, trusting that the Lord's coming is near and that His compassion and mercy are ever-present. [30:37]
Psalm 37:7 (ESV): "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"
Reflection: Pray the Serenity Prayer today. What specific area of your life do you need to surrender to God, asking for His patience and wisdom?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In our fast-paced world, especially in a city like New York, patience is a rare commodity. We live in a culture that values speed and efficiency, often at the expense of our mental and spiritual well-being. The pressure to succeed quickly can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impatience. This impatience can manifest in various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our relationships, and can lead us to make hasty decisions that we later regret." [06:44]
2. "The wisdom of this age basically tells us more drive, more ambition, and you know what I'd like to admit here before you all? I love it. I mean, this is why I moved to this city. This is what the city has been built on—this kind of drive and energy and accomplishment. And yet here James is teaching us about this is what wisdom looks like. It doesn't mean we remove all of our ambition. Instead, what we do is we do what we can, but we've released like a farmer who has done the work that a farmer can to plow, to sow, to till. And yet when it comes down to the crop and when it yields in season or out of season, I release this and I wait patiently for it and I stand firm." [10:52]
3. "Jesus enters into the world as a three M an hour God who's walking everywhere. It's like, Jesus, you could probably fly to places like Superman, but he chooses to walk 3 miles an hour. Now I know what you're thinking, you're like, actually Drew, in Manhattan, it's more like five miles per hour. That's what walking is like, okay, so like I get it, you overachievers, three miles an hour. He reflects on how that's kind of the average time and speed that a human being walks at. And this is what Jesus does. He comes into the world at such a pace and he talks about how love is slow. It takes time, takes development, takes patience, a patiently waiting for, and the invitation to follow God is not this microwaved, speedy, magic bullet kind of spirituality. It's a spirituality that invites us to follow this three M an hour God." [14:08]
4. "When we're not being able to be patient because we live in a city that is so impatient, what's different about Christian Theology and the Christian perspective on patience is the invitation to be patient is not rooted in your strength and in mine. See, it constantly goes back. He says the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. In other words, why are we supposed to be patient? It's because the Lord is full of compassion and mercy." [25:24]
5. "The Serenity Prayer encapsulates the wisdom of patience beautifully. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to exercise patience and surrender to God's will." [30:37]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the Autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." [00:31]
2. "The wisdom of this age basically tells us more drive, more ambition, and you know what I'd like to admit here before you all? I love it. I mean, this is why I moved to this city. This is what the city has been built on—this kind of drive and energy and accomplishment. And yet here James is teaching us about this is what wisdom looks like. It doesn't mean we remove all of our ambition. Instead, what we do is we do what we can, but we've released like a farmer who has done the work that a farmer can to plow, to sow, to till. And yet when it comes down to the crop and when it yields in season or out of season, I release this and I wait patiently for it and I stand firm." [10:52]
3. "Jesus enters into the world as a three M an hour God who's walking everywhere. It's like, Jesus, you could probably fly to places like Superman, but he chooses to walk 3 miles an hour. Now I know what you're thinking, you're like, actually Drew, in Manhattan, it's more like five miles per hour. That's what walking is like, okay, so like I get it, you overachievers, three miles an hour. He reflects on how that's kind of the average time and speed that a human being walks at. And this is what Jesus does. He comes into the world at such a pace and he talks about how love is slow. It takes time, takes development, takes patience, a patiently waiting for, and the invitation to follow God is not this microwaved, speedy, magic bullet kind of spirituality. It's a spirituality that invites us to follow this three M an hour God." [14:08]
4. "When we're not being able to be patient because we live in a city that is so impatient, what's different about Christian Theology and the Christian perspective on patience is the invitation to be patient is not rooted in your strength and in mine. See, it constantly goes back. He says the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. In other words, why are we supposed to be patient? It's because the Lord is full of compassion and mercy." [25:24]
5. "The Serenity Prayer encapsulates the wisdom of patience beautifully. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to exercise patience and surrender to God's will." [30:37]
6. "The invitation that James gives is basically what does it look like for each one of us to be a person who actually lives with patience that doesn’t lead to grumbling but instead is rooted and firm. Now most of you, you’re listening to this and you’re basically like, okay, I get it, that’s a great moral teaching. Now what’s so different than that than just any kind of moral teacher? If you were to hear that in any kind of talk on patience, hey, be patient in your workplace, be patient in your relationship, most of us would be like, yes, I can see why it would be good to be patient. However, this city is not patient. People looking to cut me off, to get ahead of me, to run ahead. I have to work like crazy, I have to compete like crazy, I have to do whatever I can to shoot my best shot. All right, there’s all these kinds of ways that inculcate into our thinking that tells us no, no, no, don’t be patient. And the question emerges, like, why should we be patient and what’s the unique fundamental difference between just this moral teaching to be patient and the invitation to actually, what’s the Christian difference between being patient? What’s so different about why Christians believe in patience?" [22:29]
7. "When we’re not being able to be patient because we live in a city that is so impatient, what’s different about Christian Theology and the Christian perspective on patience is the invitation to be patient is not rooted in your strength and in mine. See, it constantly goes back. He says the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. In other words, why are we supposed to be patient? It’s because the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. The root word, the root Greek word of the word compassion is this word of move to the bowels, like moved in the gut. It’s like when someone is moved with compassion, there’s something deep seated within my soul, within my gut, where I care for that person, where I’m thinking about that person, where I’m agonizing over that person. And what James is basically saying is the Lord God himself is moved when he thinks of you to the gut." [25:24]
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