James 5:8 – “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
It’s striking how James begins this chapter by calling out those who hoard wealth and fail to treat others fairly, like the farmer who hasn’t paid his workers. But right alongside that warning is a picture of patience, a farmer waiting for the land to yield its crop. That contrast reminds me that patience and thankfulness are the opposite of grumbling, greed, or self-absorption. It is not easy at all to see God’s Kingdom and his righteousness as more important than my desires.
Instead, it’s far too easy to get caught up in my own wants, thinking about what I feel I deserve or how I can get more. James challenges that focus. Instead of constantly chasing after more, I want to pause, be thankful for what I have, and consider how I can use it for God.