Patience And Wisdom

James Chapter 1:1-8

Patience and Wisdom

Let's turn to James chapter one.

Saul, a quite, shy Israelite was asked to be king of Israel. He reigned over the country a year before his real character showed. The Philistine Army had gathered at the borders of Israel to attacked them. The people of Israel, having given up there blacksmithing manufacturing, because the Philistines could do it cheaper, now had no swords, spears, or other weapons to defend themselves. Therefore the people were in greater fear. Samuel told Saul to go an prepare and that he would be there in 7 days to bring an offering to the Lord on Israel’s behalf.

But Samuel did not show up on the 7th day and the people began to leave. So Saul became frightened that he was going to loose his ragged army, who had no weapons. He panic, Saul, instead of waiting on Samuel, offered up and offering to the Lord. No sooner had he done so then Samuel walks up.

1Sa 13:13,14 And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly: You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: for the LORD would have established your kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because you have not kept [that] which the LORD commanded you.

Patience is an incredible virtue. People that do not cultivate the virtue of patience live a life of misery. Saul was given an incredible opportunity, to be King over Israel, but lost it due to the lack of patience.

No one wants to wait for anything. We live in a microwave society. I want it and I want it now. But that is not how the world works. Good things take time.

The best time to cultivate patience is when you are a child, because teenage hood brings a great need for it. All the stress of life seems to hit teens all at once.

• School becomes difficult and you have to start focusing

• You start noticing the opposite sex and hormones kick in.

• You do not want to start making those difficult decisions of life, but it is time

Then Adulthood kicks in with all its struggles to be patient.

• With you wife,

• with you children,

• with your boss,

• with your parents, with your you name it.

Is there anyone here that does not have a need for patience?

Jam 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Jam 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Jam 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all [men] liberally, and upbraids (rebuke) not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

Who is James that he has the right to tell us how to live and to be part of the scriptures of the Bible?

James introduces himself as the bondslave of God and of Jesus Christ.

It's a title most of the apostles delighted to take and we see through the New Testament.

• They renouncing any claim for any rights,

• They turning their lives totally over to God and to the lordship of Jesus Christ,

• They do not consider their lives their own.

• They were bereft of ambitions in a personal way.

• They lived solely to serve the Lord and to please Him.

A bondslave was just that, one who lived completely for his master.

• He had no rights of ownership,

• could not hold title to anything,

• everything he had belonged to his master.

• He was there only to serve.

There are 3 possibilities:

• James, the brother of John, but he was martyred in AD 44

• James the half brother of Jesus and the early Bishop of the Church of Jerusalem

• James, someone, no one today knows about.

He is considered by most the half brother of Jesus/ Bishop of the church at Jerusalem.

Mar 6:3 states he has brothers by the name of “James, Joses, Juda, and Simon and sisters

John 7 states his brothers often made fun of him, not believing in him until after the resurrection. But then James, like Paul later had a great conversion, becoming a great Christian leader.