James 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Subject: Steadfastness (Perseverance)
Note what Peter tells us about how steadfastness interweaves into the life of faith:
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Timothy 2:12 (ESV Strong's)
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
In the old days we would call this "stick-to-it-ness." It may be a lost art in our modern society. God has provided us the strength to persevere to the end and the motivation, but we still see believers give up in the fight when the suffering and/or pain increases. This is a theme of James, from the very beginning of his book. He actually said we would receive a crown if we do endure:
James 1:12 (ESV Strong's)
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
At the center of the perseverance is to "love Him." We cannot endure if we do not love Him more than anything else. More than life itself ... i.e. Job. James gives us the example of Job because it shows God's purpose in the end. God is a God of mercy and compassion. By allowing Satan to touch Job it allowed God to show His tender passion and mercy. God's purpose is to show us His mercy and He is to be glorified for His compassion on us. But, without sin and the results of sin in our lives, we can't see that mercy and compassion. Our purpose in life is to show that God is the God of mercy and we do that by enduring the pain and suffering in the world to His glory.
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