Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  (8) You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  (9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.  Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!  (10) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke on the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 

This letter was written by James, the half brother of Jesus. JAmes was the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem – this is important because he presided over the Jerusalem council in A.D. 49 and did not mention that in this letter. He does say that he is writing to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad indicating persecution has begun forcing the new Christians out of Jerusalem – these two things as described and dated in the Acts of the Apostles might give us a date of pre- 49 A.D. for this letter, making it the earliest book in the New Testament Canon.

Writing to a dispersed audience, James concentrates on urging patience and trust in the Lord who is faithful. JAmes uses the example of the farmer who sows his crop and then waits for the early rain and the final rain.  The farmer is patient and confident of his precious fruit – the nourishment of life. Conversely, we can’t/don’t have to practice patience when things are going well – which was clearly not  case for the persecuted Jewish Christian – so adversity is your friend and builds patience which builds character and brings hope which shall not fail.

James was a Jewish man, steeped in the Old Testament. He advises his readers, when they are tempted to impatience or despair, to remember the prophets of the Old Testament who were blessed in their afflictions.  The patient Christians will be delivered and they should be just with one another. They are advised to be content and ready to bypass offense “lest you be condemned.”  God will be our judge – if we ask for vengeance on others we might be wishing it on ourselves and James tells us in this letter that the Judge is at the door.

In our verses today James condemns the rich who value only the things of this world.  If the rich knew what was coming because of the treasure they build up in this world, they would weep and howl.  Riches are even now corrupted, corroded and moth eaten.  In this letter James compares our lives to a but a vapor that appears then vanishes away  James counsels patience, patience patience – to bridle the body and trust in God  To not judge others and – there is only one judge and He is at the door

this is a pretty good Christmas message and we should be asking for the virtues James advocates and turn away from corruptable things.  We should gather our treasures in heaven for there our hearts will also be .  Lovely