This is the last in our series of meditations on the book of James:

• 1: Wisdom – ask God! (A second blog on wisdom)
• 2: Works – what we do matters!
• 3: Words – what we say matters!
• 4: Wars – “Where do wars and fights come from among you?”
• 5: Waiting – things aren’t all that good now? Wait.

We now look at one of the messages from James 5: Waiting

This is America. We don’t like to wait for anything. Do you remember the days when you ordered something and were told “Allow four weeks for delivery”? Now many times when I order, it arrives the next day. My son in Atlanta sometimes orders in the morning, and it shows up at their house the same day!

We may get our stuff faster than we used to, but important things take a little longer. With respect to some of what we looked at in James, there’s still a lot of partiality out there (James 2.1 – 7). There’s a lot of vitriolic language (James 3). Wars and fighting? Check. (James 4.1 – 4)

To top it off, there is oppression of the poor.

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (James 5.4 – 6, ESV)

The solution? Wait:

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand…As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5.7 – 11, ESV)

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time. (James 5.7, 8, MSG)

It’s hard to wait, especially when it looks like things are going to hell in a handbasket, but that’s the word…and the promise. “The Master could arrive at any time.”

But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. (Hebrews 10.36, 37, MSG)

Also at that time, people will say, “Look at what’s happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This GOD, the one we waited for! Let’s celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation. (Isaiah 25.9, MSG)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21.1 – 4, ESV)