Patience

The biblical meaning of patience, not the way we use the word loosely today to meet our stander of the word. Are people living up to G-d’s Word on patient or do they have to live up to our meaning of patience?
Strong’s G5281
1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance
a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
b) patiently, and steadfastly
2) a patient, steadfast waiting for
3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
This is a letter for us. Some people have thought that the book of James isn't important for Christians it does not expound human doctrines, but lays much emphasis on G-d's Law.
In many ways, we listen to the book of James because it echoes the teaching of Y’Shua. There are at least fifteen allusions to the Sermon on the Mount in James, a man who knew the teaching of Y’Shua and took it seriously.
[James 1:2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials: James regards trials as inevitable. He says when, not if you fall into various trials. At the same time, trials are occasions for joy, not discouraged resignation. We can count it all joy in the midst of trials, because they are used to produce patience.
[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Faith produces patience for faith is tested through trials, not produced by trials. Trials reveal what faith we do have, not because G-d doesn't know how much faith we have, but to make our faith evident to ourselves and those around us.
If trials do not produce faith, what does? Romans 10:17 tells us: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of G-d. Faith is built in us as we hear and understand and trust in G-d's Word.
Worketh patience, trials don't produce faith, but when trials are received with faith, it produces patience. But patience is not inevitably produced in times of trial. If difficulties are received in unbelief and grumbling, trials can produce bitterness and discouragement. This is why James exhorts us to count it all joy. Counting it all joy is faith's response to a time of trial.
It is occasionally asserted that James asks his readers to enjoy their trials . . . He did not say that they must feel it all joy, or that trials are all joy
Patience is the ancient Greek word hupomone (to stay, abide, and remain). At its root, it means to remain under. It has the picture of someone under a heavy load and resolutely staying there instead of trying to escape, describes "the frame of mind which endures. This word does not describe a passive waiting, but an active endurance. It isn't so much the quality that helps you sit quietly in the doctor's waiting room as it is the quality that helps you finish a marathon.]
[4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing: The work of patient endurance comes slowly, and must be allowed to have full bloom. Patient endurance is a mark of the person who is perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The devil endeavors by sufferings and crosses to draw men to sin and to deter them from duty, or unfit them for it; but, as our afflictions are in God's hand, they are intended for the trial and improvement of our graces. The gold is put into the furnace, that it may be purified.
Our trials may be of many and different kinds, and therefore we have needed to put on the whole amour of G-d. We must be armed on every side, because temptations lie on all sides. The trials of a good man are such as he does not create to himself, nor sinfully pull upon himself; but they are such as he is said to fall into. And for this reason they are the better borne by him. The graces and duties of a state of trial and affliction are here pointed out to us. Could we attend to these things, and grow in them as we should do, how good would it be for us to be afflicted!
We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavor to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged, the better to take in a true sense of our case, and with greater advantage to set ourselves to make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but the Father teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in Him. In them we are conformable to Messiah our head, and they become marks of our adoption. By suffering in the ways of righteousness, we are serving the interests of our
L-rd's kingdom among men and edifying the body of the Messiah; and our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last. Therefore there is reason to count it all joy when trials and difficulties become our lot in the way of our duty.
The trying of one grace produces another; and the more the suffering graces of a Believer are exercised the stronger they grow. Tribulation worketh patience, Romans 5:3.
When the work of patience is complete, then the Believer is entire, and nothing will be wanting: it will furnish us with all that is necessary for our running the race and warfare enable us to persevere to the end, and then its work will be ended, and crowned with glory.
Today we say “you are not patient because you can’t wait until we get around to it”.
Instead of “you are growing in faith as you are developing patience active endurance the trial you are going through. You show much faith that worketh patience in you as you hear and understand and trust in G-d's Word.
Patience is to be used positively, it is not a negative word, may we view the word differently.