Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  (8) You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  (9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.  Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!  (10) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 

This letter of James to the early Jewish Christians was written by James, the half brother of Jesus and the head of the church in Jerusalem. The theme of our verses today is how we are to respond when wronged.  James is basically saying Christians are to be patient as we are promised the Lord will return and will judge us ALL.  The theme of patience in adversity is obvious with the command of be patient; the illustration of the patient farmer and the example of the endurance of the prophets. It’s easy to be patient when things go our way but it so quickly flies out the window when we feel we are unjustly treated. Patience was not even a word in classical  Greek – it was an unknown word and/or concept – vengeance was admired, expected and applauded. God’s wisdom in Christ was revolutionary and Jewish Christians were told to stifle cultural and instinctive reactions to injustice and unfair treatment.

Patience requires trust in the promises of God;  the Day of the Lord will come – the Judge IS standing at the door.  Christians are told to be especially generous with fellow Christians;  to live life in the light of eternal salvation – to live and behave as we believe and to prepare ourselves with a disciplined life.  We are to release bitterness; to stop complaining or nurturing resentment; to practice restraint. That person we grumble against is someone God put in our path. I think the toughest lessons often are learned from someone we don’t like. God has a plan and God is sovereign.

The very good news is that we won’t need patience in heaven!