James Chapter 5

James hits several points in this chapter, ranging from the dangers of earthly riches to the prayers of the faithful. Out of all these concepts, the one that stuck out to me the most was the concept in the middle of the chapter: Patience in Suffering. This is a continuation of the theme James talks about in the first chapter, but is one that bears repeating. The metaphor that John employs here of a farmer patiently waiting for his crops to come to fruition is an apt description of the mindset we should have when faced with trials and tribulation. We are certain that God will not put us in situations beyond our ability to persevere through. Thus, we should be patient, knowing as James pointed out in chapter 1 that such trials and tribulation bring us to more fully rely on God and help us grow in our relationship with him. This is a hard statement to make as trials and tribulations often bring stress and anxiety to our lives. To combat these emotions, it is necessary to reflect on the advice offered here and in chapter one by James that points us to Christ.