James 5 - 6.30.23
Scripture
James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
Observation
During my senior year of high school I worked on a farm, re-roofing some old buildings. Every day I showed up to work, the farmer was already out in his fields dripping sweat. And as the sun was setting and I was packing up for the day, he was often still out there, working tirelessly. Day after day, his bank account didn’t see a single deposit. He didn’t get to enjoy a single ear of buttered corn. Why keep working so hard and so faithfully? Because he knew the harvest was certain.
James says that we should be laboring in the Lord faithfully, patiently and confidently awaiting his appearing. Just as the harvest comes for the farmer, the moment will come when Jesus returns and we will receive the fruits of our labor for the Lord, an eternal inheritance.
Application
Keep laboring, the Lord is coming soon.
In the busyness of life and all the day-to-day activities, it can be easy to lose sight of Heaven and Jesus’ return. Even in ministry there are times we find ourselves going through the motions instead of laboring out of genuine love for God, with his coming in mind. And, when you lose sight of the harvest, or Heaven, it can be tempting to abandon the work when you get tired.
Prayer
God, please help me to live in light of heaven. Make us so eternally minded that we would labor faithfully today. Regardless of the fruit we see now, we know 1 Corinthians 15:58 that says “your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
2 Timothy 4:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Like Paul, may we continually long for your appearing. And like James encourages us, may we labor with confidence and patience. Come, Lord Jesus. Come. Amen.
-Levi Thompson