The Perfect Work of Patience James 1:4

James the apostle and half-brother of Jesus told the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” to “count it all joy, when” they “fall into divers temptations”. His reason was “the trying of” their “faith” would produce “patience”. In chapter one and verse four of his letter, James continued his discussion concerning “patience” as he instructed them to “let patience have her perfect work” where we read:

But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The verse begins, “But let patience have her perfect work,” James began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated “let patience” or “have, hold, allow, own and possess steadfastness, constancy and endurance” “have her perfect” which means “have, hold, own and possess that which is brought to an end, finished, and wanting nothing necessary to completeness” “work” or “business, employment and that which anyone is occupied”. James' readers were to allow “complete and finished” “patience” in their lives which was produced through many “trials”.

The verse continues, “that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James added, “that you may be” or “that those within the twelve tribes scattered abroad might be” “perfect” which means “brought to an end, finished, and wanting nothing necessary to completeness” “and entire” or “complete in all it's parts and in no part unsound or incomplete”, “wanting” which means “leaving behind, lacking, forsaking, lagging and being made inferior and destitute” “nothing” or “in no one, none or anything”. The reason for allowing “patience” to have it's “perfect work” was so they would be made “complete and finished without lacking anything” themselves.

When we consider James' words in this verse, we are encouraged to allow the “trials” we face to “produce perfect patience” within us. Now that may be an ideal state, but nonetheless it is our standard. The Lord Jesus desires for His followers to be more and more like Him every day, and to do so, we must realize the fashioning of our “patience” or “complete dependence” upon Him must be “allowed” in our lives. “Trials and temptations” will come against everyone, and the question is, “will we realize that God has a purpose through these trials to fashion us according to the image of His dear Son?”

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Next time James tells his readers what to do if they “lack wisdom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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