How should we wait patiently for the Lord’s return? On this day when many Christians celebrate the martyrdom of St. Valentine, we naturally turn first to verses 10 and 11, remembering those throughout history for whom persecution was the price of faithfulness. James reminds us that sometimes suffering is just part of God’s plan, so while we wait for the Lord’s coming, we are often called to endure it.

But this doesn’t mean we just have to grit our teeth like the stoics. No, verse 11 reminds us that, even though this sinful world often persecutes us precisely because of our faithfulness to God, we must never forget the reason we remain loyal to Him – our God is always compassionate and merciful. We must remain true to Him because He has been so loving and gracious to us.

And that’s why James says that our waiting for the Lord must include the obedient pursuit of holiness as well as the endurance of persecution. We should not grumble against one another, passing judgment on our fellow Christians (v. 9) because Christ is the only One with the authority to judge any of us. Moreover, we should treat one another with absolute honesty (v. 12). In short, as we wait for Christ’s coming, we must cultivate a Christlike spirit.

So it’s no wonder that James begins this passage with an agricultural metaphor. For a farmer doesn’t just wait around for crops to grow in his fields, does he? No, he does the hard work of preparing the ground and sowing the seed, and pulling the weeds, doing his part to encourage the growth of the crops, just as we should make every effort to root out dishonesty and accusation from our lives. But the farmer must also wait for the rain to water the ground and make the seed grow, just as we must wait for Christ to return and complete our sanctification. For it is only when He comes again that we will no longer be able to sin. Come, Lord Jesus!

James 5:7-12

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.
8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 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.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.