The Rewards of Perseverance
Reflection
Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question.
1. Think of a time when you persevered in spite of difficult circumstances. What were the rewards for
your perseverance?
Bible Reading
Read James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for
the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be
ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another,
brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets,
who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we
count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the
Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Discovery
Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.
2. Why should believers be motivated to patiently endure?
3. How does the illustration of a farmer show the importance of patience?
4. Whose example should believers follow? Why?
5. What did the prophets gain from their suffering?
Question 5. Look up Old Testament references that tell about prophets who suffered: Exodus 17:1–7; 1
Kings 18:3, 4; 18:10–19:2; 2 Kings 6:31; 2 Chronicles 18:12–27; 24:20–22; Jeremiah 37:1–38:13; Daniel 6.
6. How was God's compassion and mercy extended to Job?
Inspiration
Here is an uplifting thought from the Inspirational Study Bible.
Bart decided to ask God to shape his character. He surrendered his own will to the will of God. At the time,
Bart's business floundered on the verge of failure. “Should I throw in the towel, or keep trying to hang on?” Bart
wondered.
God replies, “You need to persevere.” After we have done the will of God, then we will receive our reward. God's
will is for us to demonstrate to a hurting world how wonderfully His power can work within the person who perseveres.
Certainly, there are days when we feel like we will die, or maybe even wish we could, but we keep going. Why?
Why do we keep going? Because when we have done the will of God we will receive what He has promised.
Will persevering guarantee we will succeed in the worldly sense of success? Is that what He has promised? Does
it mean we will not go out of business if we hang on? No, but we can state emphatically that if we don't persevere
we will not succeed in any sense. Not persevering guarantees we will fail.…
Beyond succeeding in a worldly sense though, God wants our character to succeed more than our circumstances
to succeed. He will adjust our circumstances in such a way that our character eventually succeeds, for that is
His highest aim, His will.
(From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morley)
Response
Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.
7. When has it been difficult for you to persevere in your Christian walk?
8. How have Christian friends encouraged you to persevere?
9. What can believers do to help one another develop patience and perseverance?
Prayer
Father, you never promised us that this world would be easy, you never said there would be no pain. But you
did promise that if we persevere, we would be blessed by your mercy and your grace. Teach us to hold firmly to
your promises, so that we can endure the struggles and storms of this world.
Journaling
Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.
How can the promise of Christ's return help me face my daily struggles?
Additional Questions
10. What new insight about God's character have you gained from this lesson?
11. How does your understanding of God encourage you to persevere?
12. How can you encourage others to persevere?
For more Bible passages on perseverance, see Romans 2:7; 5:3, 4; 8:24, 25; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 10:36; 12:1;
James 1:2–4, 12; 2 Peter 1:5–9.
To complete the book of James during this twelve-part study, read James 5:7–11.
From Life Lessons from the Inspired Word of God—Book of James by Max Lucado. Copyright 1996 by Word Publishing. Published by Word.
