James 5
James 5
Warning to Rich Oppressors
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%205&version=NIV
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…v1-6… I feel like these verses aren’t just talking about money. They mention much deeper issues–selfishness and self-indulgence–that don’t have to be associated with money but rather can be related to just about anything. We can be selfish with our love, affections, wealth, friendship, wisdom, time, energy, chores, even our bodies (for those of us who are married), and many more things. God notices, and He cares how we treat those around us.
…v7-12… I like this phrase “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have see what the Lord finally brought about.” No matter what we’re going through… it would be hard to find someone who suffered more than he did. All his family died–except his wife who didn’t seem like a very good person to have around anyway, he lost all his fame and fortune, he was sick and hurting, he lost all his servants (except like 2-3?), and all his friends thought he was a bad person and judged him and blamed him for his misfortune (can you imagine all your friends thinking it was your fault your kids died?)…and yet, after going through all that agony, Job ended up with everything restored to him, his friends were chastised by God, he was given wealth again, and more children were born to him, and most of all, he knew God much better. BUT, all of that came about again because Job persevered ad clung to what he believed about God. When we are struggling, with jobs, marriages, friendships, money issues, health, people dying–do we hold on to what we believe about God? Do we remember that God restored Job? Do we remember that God is loving and sovereign over the situation?
…v13-20… There are 2 things in these verses that mean a lot to me:
(1)–“confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed.” Did you notice it doesn’t say to confess your sins to God? It says to confess your sins to each other…. ouch. Telling God my sins isn’t all that hard. He knows what I did wrong and He’s sure to forgive me. No big deal, right? I mean, it’s not like God thinks I’m a perfect person or anything anyway… But, my friends? the people I go to church with? some adult I respect? Telling them that I messed up and how or why… what will they think of me afterwards? and when they see me again, they might remember and ask me if it’s happened again, or they might just never forget that I did that… It’s a LOT harder and a LOT more humbling to confess our sins to our brothers and sisters in Christ. But, I can say that it is a lot easier for me personally to find healing and help if I confess my issues to a friend and ask them to pray with and for me… Accountability and vulnerability in friendship are beautiful things.
(2) “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” I just like this verse because it reminds me that God does listen and answer prayers, and that prayer is very very powerful…and that we are righteous through Jesus’ blood and our relationship with God.