James 5:7-10
James teaches patience of several different kinds in this short passage. The first metaphor we receive is an agricultural one, which reminds us to “stand firm” and let our reward, or harvest, come to us when it is the right time. James reminds us that our life on Earth is only temporary, and compared to spending eternity in perfect community with God, our life here is only a season. Because of this, we should not waste our time arguing with our own siblings within our community. God is a perfect and loving judge, and justice will prevail after all. We should, instead, seek unity as siblings in the body of Christ. When we are patient with one another, we set an example of love for others to follow. This is not normal in our Western self-centered culture. Living a life modelled after Christ will attract negative attention from time to time. During these trials, we are tasked with patience. Our reward is coming near.
~ Quentin Flowers