THOSE WHO ENDURE WILL BE HAPPY.
“Behold, we count them happy {blessed} which endure.”-{James 5:11}.
The Greek word, “makarios” means Blessed or Happy! James is not saying happiness comes from being free from trials, troubles, of any kind but in overcoming them! “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”-{1 John 5:4-5}.
Trials are to be expected, we encounter trials. James wrote in chapter one, “when you encounter various trials.” Not “if” but “when.” Trials are inevitable. Defeat, despair need not be. Sure, we are tempted and at times have been overwhelmed by them. But God wants to empower and has supplied His Holy Spirit to do so. “By His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness.”-{2 Peter 1:3}. He has given us “precious and magnificent promises,” to encourage, enable us and to be applied by us!
In chapter one it has to do with difficult adverse circumstances when speaking of “trials, temptations.”{hupomone}. In James 5:7-11 the word “patient,” {makrothumeo,}. The word “macro” means large. And the word thumos means “anger.” Makros means in the simplest sense “long.” Something that is “macro” is large, the Greeks used it to speak of something particularly long. It’s speaking of that which is long tempered, as opposed to being…short tempered!
It has the idea of being long suffering with…people! Not losing your temper or having a short fuse. It is is speaking of dealing in a Godly way with difficult, adverse people. You can be long suffering with people. Because the Spirit of God dwells within you and in submission to Him He will empower you. Also, you know Jesus is…returning! He is the end, not your painful difficult circumstances or difficult people! And we can be “patient” with them through…loving them. Denying yourself and preferring them for their highest good, ultimately for Jesus sake.-{Read 2 Cor 4:5}. Paul demonstrated this when he suffered as 12 Cor 11, he lists cruel beatings, shipwrecked, etc… and one way to happily endure is through love, for as we obey Him we know based on his Word we are expressing love to Him. -{Read John 14:21}. That can motivate us, knowing we are expressing Love to Him!
As we obey Him He will impart the peace and joy as this is what the Holy Spirit produces when we submit to Him.-{Read Gal 5:22}. Love is manifested and one way is through long suffering, not merely tolerating them and letting them know with such things as the rolling of the eyes, or the sighing, many ways to show disdain, but instead to seek their best! And one way is to show them kindness, deeds of kindness. We read that…”Love is long-suffering, love is kind…”-{Read 1 Cor 13;4}. Love does not retaliate or seek vengeance, but mirrors the character of God, Christ-likeness and shows with kindness!
We can be happy as we continue, endure in our trials, difficult people, by the grace of God, knowing what HIS Word says can endure, persist, continue on through the trials, not defeated or overcome by them but by choosing to continually look away to Jesus, trusting, relying on Him and what He says. To the one who endures, they will be… happy! Not happy about sufferings, or difficult people but happy in Him and His WORD. Happy He is coming back!
In verse 7-11 he gives us reasons to be “patiently endure, and be “happy,” namely, “ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near…”- {v7}. ” You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” -{v8}. The return of the LORD Jesus is a reason to motivate us to be happy. In verse 11 read “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.“-{v11}
SOME REASONS TO BE HAPPY ARE…
A.- The Return of the LORD Jesus. Looking ahead to Him and what the future holds!- {v 7-8}
B.- What the LORD brought about with Job. -{v11}
The fullness of the LORD’S …
C. – Compassion and -{v 11}
The fullness of the LORD’S
D.- Mercy. -{v 11}
We can patiently endure, and happily so as we remember and focus on the LORD Is Coming BACK!
“As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, Take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”- {v 10}. Consider those who lived before us and how they suffered and endured…
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.“- {Matt 5;10-12} Read up on the prophets and see how they endured so as to draw strength from their lives…
In the Old Testament we read of such people as
- Elijah when threatened by the wicked queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-4).
- Amos was insulted by the chief priest at the sanctuary in Bethel and threatened never to prophesy again (Amos 7:10-15).
- Micaiah had the courage to contradict the prophetic announcement of four hundred false prophets (1 Kings 22: 5-6) . They said that Ramoth Gilead would be defeated by the combined forces of Kings Ahab and Jehoshaphat. He knew that it was a lying spirit that was deluding these prophets – for this he was ht in the face by Zedekiah and put in prison by King Ahab (1 Kings 22:23-27).
- Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, was stoned to death for rebuking the people who turned aside to Asherah poles and idols, and for forsaking the Temple. (2 Chron 24:16-22).
- Hanani the seer reproved King Asa for trusting in the king of Aram, instead of in the Lord, saying that from that time onward he would be at war. The king was so angry he had Hanani put in prison (2 Chron 16:7-9).
- Uriah from Kiriath Jearim is described as “another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, he prophesied the same things…as Jeremiah did” (Jer 26:20-23). When King Jehoiakim heard what he said, he was looking for ways of putting Uriah to death. In fear for his life, the prophet escaped to Egypt. Thereupon the king dispatched a party of men to find him. When they brought him back to the king, he had Uriah murdered with a sword and his body thrown into the common burial place.
Two ways they suffered can be seen in (1) rejection. They and their message was rejected (2) Suffering. They suffered physically at the hands of others. Emotional and physical rejection.
They were persecuted by ridicule (2 Kings 2:23, Luke 22:64, Jer 20:7); told not to preach, or share the message (Amos 2:12, 7:13); by unpleasant looks (Jer 1:8,17, 5:3); through accusations and having their message reported back to the authorities (Jer 18:19, 37:13, Amos 7:10, Jer 20:10); forbidden from going to God’s house (Jer 36:5); and by having their prophetic words, rejected. (Isa 30:10, Micah 2:6, Amos 7:12,16, Jer 36:23).
They experienced physical violence. They were put in the stocks (Jer 20:2); Placed in chains (Jer 40:1); Hit in the face (1 Kings 22:24); Put in prison cells, dungeons and cisterns (Jer 37:15-16 & 38:6) limited to eat bread and water (1 Kings 22:27); threatened with death (1 Kings 19:1) others were put to death. (2 Chron 24:21, Jer 26:20-23).
Others were killed whose names we do not know. (Luke 11:50-51). John the Baptist, whom The LORD Jesus called “a prophet and more than a prophet” (Matt 11:9). He was killed, beheaded.
Consider their lives, how they endured for their allegiance to the LORD,”…As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience,…”- {v 10}. Note, we too have a responsibility to be an example. And what is it that should motivate us in the hard difficult times with difficult people, is to look to the return of the LORD, and all that means. A Good study is to read verses on His return and what that will mean. That will give you “fuel,” for your faith as you focus on Him and His return. Your difficulties, pain, suffering are not the end, there is a “But God…” Jesus Christ is returning! “Happy” are those who know the will of God, do the will of God and know the future will of God, that there is a bright and brilliant future, The LORD Jesus is… returning! Think on Him and His return. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;“-{Phil 3:20}. “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.“-{Titus 2:13}.”Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him…”- {Rev 1:7}.
We press on following Him, enduring and we can be happy, based on TRUTH, FACTS, of what He has said! He is returning!
“Happy” Are those who endure. The secret?
Someone to look forward to!!