Our Great Need Of Patience Series

A man was walking through a supermarket with a screaming baby in the shopping cart.

A woman nearby noticed that time and again the man would calmly say: “Keep calm, Albert. Keep calm, Albert.”

Finally, in admiration for the man’s patience as the child continued to wail, the woman walked up to him and said: “Sir, I must commend you for your patience with baby Albert.”

To which the man replied, drawing himself up: “Madam, I am Albert!”

Patience is a rare commodity today. We are increasingly accustomed to instant responses to almost every situation. Doctor’s office/restaurant/traffic/computer/commercials/movie/church

"The annual cost of running red lights (in medical bills and car repairs) is 7 billion dollars? And, for all of our hurry, the average amount of time saved by running a red light is only 50 seconds

Most of the people alive today cannot remember the day when we had no television, automatic washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and even microwave ovens.

With all the instant conveniences we possess, we learn little about patience

I read about a little boy named Jack. His mother heard him screaming and ran into the bedroom to find his two-year sister pulling his hair. She got the little girl to let go of his hair and then said to Jack, “I’m sorry. She didn’t mean it. She doesn’t know that hurts.”

The mother was barely out of the room when she heard the little girl scream. She ran back into the bedroom, “What happened?” Jack said, “She knows now!”

WAITING IS SOMETIMES A PART OF LIFE

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

1. Until Jesus comes patience is a need of every life.

2. We know this passage is addressed to believers because James uses ‘brethren’ four times

The kind of patience to which James is referring can only be achieved by a person whose life is

connected to God.

“Be patient” in Greek means to be “long tempered” and comes to us from the combination of two Greek words which means “far away” and which means “anger, heat or rage.”

This is not a passive resignation but an attitude of self-restraint that enables one to refrain from hasty retaliation in the face of provocation.

Patience is not passive; on the contrary it is active; it is concentrated strength.

Edward Bulwer

The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

1. A farmers life is a great indicator of how waiting is part of the process

a. Right season b. Seed to mature and grow c. Rain and Sun

In Israel, they farm in a different way than we do. They plant in our fall and reap in our spring.

After they sow, comes the early rains. They are essential because they help the seed to germinate. The seed matures and grows, and in the latter part of the season, the late rains come. They make the growth into a productive crop.

The farmer has no control over these things. He must resort to patience and trust in God.

Their whole livelihood depended on their trust in God.

8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

1. James is saying, "Look at the farmer. You need to be patient, too.

Sometimes we have no choice but to wait.

2. The farmer knew that underneath that soil was growing up something precious.

He also knew that he could not pull up the crop before the proper time or it would be ruined.

3. We, much like the ground, are being plowed and cultivated by God. He does this so that we

would also bear much fruit. And it takes time and it is difficult to wait on God’s timing.

It would be so nice if, when we came to know Jesus, we could become a spiritual giant overnight.

It comes through allowing God to work on his timetable until the results come forth.

Many people become frustrated in their Christian walk because they want it all — now!

If the soil could speak, it would resent the plow and say so. So, when God begins to work on our lives, sometimes it is tough.

But that is where patience comes in. We have to trust that God is doing His work in us. If we will just patiently seek Him, we will come forth on the other side bearing much fruit.

9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

A little old lady entered a department store and was startled when a band began to play and a dignified executive pinned an orchid on her dress and handed her a crisp hundred-dollar bill. She was the store’s millionth customer. Television cameras were focused on her and reporters began interviewing. “Tell me,” one asked, “just what did you come here for today?” The lady hesitated for a minute, and then answered, “I’m was on my way to the Complaint Department.”