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James 5:10-11
10 Take [lambano], my [mou] brethren [adelphos], the prophets [prophetes], who [hos] have spoken [laleo] in the name [onoma] of the Lord [kurios], for an example [hupodeigma] of suffering affliction [kakopatheia], and [kai] of patience [makrothumia].
11 Behold [idou], we count them happy [makarizo] which endure [hupomeno]. Ye have heard [akouo] of the patience [hupomone] of Job [Iob], and [kai] have seen [eido] the end [telos] of the Lord [kurios]; that [hoti] the Lord [kurios] is [esti] very pitiful [polusplagchnos], and [kai] of tender mercy [oiktirmon]. KJV-Interlinear
10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. NASB
As an example of blessing resulting from suffering, James mentions the prophets in general and Job specifically.
In Jobs case, Satan and the three friends of Job represent the activities of the world, in its quest to destroy for no good reason.
Satan wants to be like the ‘Most High,’ and in an attempt to attain his goal, Satan would destroy every living thing, which seems rather contradictory on Satan’ part. And likewise, the three friends desired to be right in their views, they desired to be admired for their wisdom, and in achieving their goals, they would gladly destroy Job, as they disregarded the facts and invented their own facts.
But, Job, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Moses, and others all endured through tremendous trials, and in the end received tremendous blessings, because of their faithful endurance.
They could have easily turned bitter and vindictive. They could have become angry and blamed God and others for their problems and unhappiness. But, they did not.
We just finished our study of Job so I will use Moses as our example in this study.
Moses grew up in the palace of Pharaoh. Moses became the crown prince of Egypt and would have been the next Pharaoh, but God had other plans for him. Moses, once he learned doctrine while in exile, saw the blessings of Egypt with its vast wealth and prestige, and then he saw the vast blessings of eternity, provided by God, and he chose God over Egypt.
In today's vocabulary, Moses as Pharaoh, would have been a multi-billionaire, would have had tens of thousands of slaves, would have had a high office and power, would have had a harem second to none, would have had everything one could possibly imagine in this life.
But Moses looked to the blessings of eternity, and chose God in a heartbeat.
The blessings of spiritual maturity offer untold blessings both in time (Job, David, Solomon) and in eternity (Moses, Elijah, the Apostles), blessings that far exceed anything you can even imagine in this life.
Therefore, do not get caught up in sinful, moral, or criminal activities, because the Lords mercies are so vast, and so well documented, that you will have no excuses if you ignore Him.
