Caution To The Disheartened Poor

James 5_7-12

Caution to the Disheartened Poor

Much of Pastor James’ message is a warning to the rich for mistreating the poor and to the poor for focusing too much on wanting to be rich, rather than seeking and focusing their attention on God.

It is very easy to get caught up in the drive and struggle to be rich rather than applying your attention and efforts on the things of God.

Matthew 4 God records for us Jesus’ temptation against sin and Satan as Satan tempts him with the things of the world, fame, wealth, power, and even the simplicity of eating.

Matthew 6 Jesus says to seeks the Kingdom of God, not striving to be rich

Revelation 21:21 “And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

Rather unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans God says (Rev 3:18)

“Because you say, I am rich, and I have plenty of goods, and have need of nothing (e.i. you do not seek me); yet (you) know not that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked: I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and [that] the shame of your nakedness does not become evident; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may really see.”

Pastor James sums all this up into a simple issue: “Patience” Look at James 5:7-12

Imperative 1: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. 7a

Example 1: Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 7b

Impatience in our lives comes from not getting what we want at the time we want it.

Remember James 4 Jam 4:1 - 3

From whence come wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume [it] upon your lusts.

I think that of many of us were farmers or fishermen we would learn patience.

• The farmer has to depend on God. There is nothing he can do but lay the seeds in the ground and wait for God to perform his part. The rain, the growth, and the protection from the insects is on God’s hand.

• The fisherman goes out and labors all day, but only catches when God delivers the fish.

• Personally, I am good at neither.

True patience is waiting without worrying. – Chuck Swindoll

When we are not patient with God or others, we are showing two things:

• our distrust in God’s ability to handle the situation or

• our belief that God is not handling or affairs correctly

• Both show a lack of respect toward God and a belief that our mind and thinking are superior to God’s

• How do you think God should handle that problem?

o Should He fry us now or later?

o Should He cast us for as unbelievers?

o Should He leave us to stew in the Juices of our own making?

Recently a customer went to McDonald's and saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. She asked for a half dozen nuggets.

'We don't have half dozen nuggets,' said the teenager at the counter.

'You don't?' She replied.

'We only have six, nine, or twelve,' was the reply.

'So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?'

'That's right.'

So she shook her head and ordered six McNuggets.

This is a very good illustration of someone patiently handling a challenging situation, but is even a better illustration of God’s dealing with us.

We think we know everything and proudly announce we don’t have a half dozen nuggets.

When in reality from God’s perspective we are imbeciles in our thinking.

We curse God, role our eyes, and fight him, and others, when in truth, we need to be hanging our heads in shame for our disbelief and lack of trust in God’s character and ability.

With that in mind James gives us a second imperative (command).

Imperative 2:

Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door. 8 & 9

There is a lack of perspective on our part. We think God’s coming is far away and that we have plenty of time to change our hearts. But Pastor James say “the judge is standing before the door,” even now.