All Messed Up!

 

James 5:7-12

Looking at the title that is above these verses in my Bible, many thoughts came into my mind.  For me to write on this subject would be like asking a drunk to teach on how they have been successful at not being alcohol dependent.  The title in my Bible is “Patience in Suffering,” and it saddens me to confess that I’m one of those people who believes it is an act of suffering if it takes fifteen minutes getting out of the church parking lot on Sunday morning.  I am often reminded that the Bible has given a lot of ink to both suffering and patience, and to keep practicing impatience is an affront to my Father and my God.  Am I the only one with this problem, or do you identify to some degree with this area of life?

Being between jobs gives me more time to ponder on such issues; I’ve come to this conclusion, I’m most impatience with others, who like me drive cars, who live in my house, who shop where I shop, and even go to church with me.  Where it does not seem to be a problem is planting seeds in my garden, and then waiting for the seed to germinate, and it takes time, time that I would not afford to many other things, and especially not to a person who is made in the image of God.  I also find myself patience with babies and small children, but not with their parents, and once more I’m reminded that I’m choosing what and to whom I will show patience.

Could those of us who are impatient be consumed with self, could it be that we are not asking the Lord to fill us with His patience, and our view is not Heaven’s view, but the world’s view, me first?  It was not that long ago, Jan and I took a trip with Joe and Barb Whitehouse, a cruise around New Zealand and I came away from that trip with this understanding; many of what we call seniors are just mean old people who will knock you down, if you are between them and the food court.  I do believe that James has the answer for the Christian who is looking for answers.

Beginning in verse 7, “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.”  Could it be that those of us with this problem are not looking to the eastern sky, not looking for our Lord’s return, and so we have moved our focus on self?  Getting back to James, verse 8 and 9, “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold the Judge is standing at the door.”  It always comes back to a heart issue, and often the Lord has to remind me that no one is unredeemable and that only the Judge has the ability to see the thoughts and intent of the heart. 

On a very personal note; I’m not sure how much longer I can put my thoughts on paper, first, I confess that I had an addiction to “Mr. Thumb” till the age of nine, and now I’ve had to confess that I’m consumed with self in the area of patience.  Before long, everyone will understand that I’m all messed up.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice