- James
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I have never been a farmer. I’m quite sure taking care of my small patch of tomato plants and herbs neither qualifies me to use the title, nor to fully understand all the hard work farmers endure. However, I do know a little about the special kind of person it takes to farm for a living.
One of the characteristics of a farmer is patience. A farmer must wait for the right time to plant. After the crop is planted, he must patiently wait while the crop grows, matures, and bears fruit.
Often the wait is difficult because it is filled with events, especially weather related, that are beyond the farmer’s control. However, the farmer is patient and perseveres through the difficult times because he knows the end result is worth the wait and the troubles.
James writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.” James 5:7 (NLT)
Even those of us who are not farmers have lots of opportunities to develop patience. We all face situations that test our patience. Like the farmer, we should trust God and his timing as we wait for things to develop. They will develop, in their proper time, and we should not be impatient before that time arrives. Impatience will not make things happen any faster.
In the words of Albert Barnes, “So we cannot control and hasten the events which are in God’s own keeping; and we should patiently wait for the developments of his will, and the arrangements of his providence, by which we may obtain what we desire.” (Notes on the New Testament Explanatory and Practical)
Your Pastor,
David Hulme
Senior Pastor