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Example #2: Praying for the Sick (5:14–16)
I don't believe James provided us with a universal approach to healing the sick. I have been involved with others praying at times for sick people, and sometimes God has healed them. However, there are times when it is not God's will to heal the person. I remember praying for a woman's healing, and she was healed in a way that seemed almost miraculous, but at the same time I was praying for another lady who had to go to the hospital for surgery, and the Lord eventually called her home. What are the unique features of this case that James was talking about? The person is sick because of their sin (vv. 15b–16). The Greek text says, "if he have committed sins." This is like what 1 Corinthians 11:30 says: "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." (have died). James has talked about a church member who is sick because God is punishing him. This is why the elders of the assembly are called: the man can't go to church to confess his sins, so he asks the spiritual leaders to come to him. The person admits to his sins (v. 16). The early church had rules for how to treat each other. One good example is 1 Corinthians 5. Paul told the Christians in Corinth to kick out the member who was sinning from the group until he repented and made things right. This is why we read in James 5:16 to confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The word "faults" may sound like the man's actions weren't that bad. James used the word "hamartia", which means "sin." James 1:15 uses the same word, and the subject is definitely sin. “The prayer of faith” (v. 15) heals the person. The praying, not the anointing, is what heals. The Greek word that means "anointing" is a medical term; it could also mean "massaging." This may mean that James is saying that people should use the resources they have to heal and also ask the Lord for His divine touch. God can heal with or without human means; in either case, it is God who does the healing. But what is "the prayer of faith" that makes sick people better? 1 John 5:14–15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." When you know what God wants, you can pray the "prayer of faith." The elders would ask God what He wanted and then pray according to that. When I talk to people who are ill, I don't always know what to pray for them. (Paul had the same problem; see Rom. 8:26.) Is it God's will to heal? Is God going to bring His child home? I don't know, so I have to pray, "If it is Your will, heal Your child." People who say that God heals everyone and that He doesn't want His children to be sick are going against both the Bible and their experience. We can pray "the prayer of faith" and expect God to work if we are sure from the Word of God and the Spirit of God that it is God's will to heal. It's not just one person praying; it's a group of elders, who are spiritual men of God, who are looking for God's will and praying. James did not tell the believer to call for a faith healer. The leaders of the local church are in charge of the situation. We shouldn't ignore the biblical instruction in this part of God's word. One reason is that disobeying God's word can make you sick. David had this experience when he tried to hide his sins (Ps. 32). Second, sin has an effect on the entire body of Christ. We can never sin alone because sin spreads and grows. Because he had sinned against the church, this man had to tell the church about it. Third, when you deal with sin, you can heal (physically and spiritually). "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy" (Prov. 28:13). In essence, James is saying, get into the habit of confessing your sins to each other." Do not conceal sin or postpone confession. The "confessing" that James wrote about is done by the saints. He wasn't saying that we should tell a preacher or priest about our sins. We first confess our sins to the Lord (1 John 1:9), but we also need to tell the people who were hurt by them about them. We do not need to admit to sin outside of the circle of that sin's influence. If you sin in private, you need to confess it in private. If you sin in public, you need to confess it there. Christians should not "hang dirty wash in public," because this kind of "confession" could do more harm than the sin itself.
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It's time to Pray (James 5:13-20)
If you use your gift of speech to glorify God, it is a wonderful blessing. James had a lot to say about the tongue, and this chapter is no different. He talked about some of the worst things people do with their tongues: complaining (James 5:9) and swearing (James 5:12). But he also talked about some of the best ways to use the tongue, like praying and praising God (James 5:13) along with sharing God's Word (James 5:10). Prayer is a crucial and holy thing to do. As His children, we have the freedom and boldness to approach God's throne and express our needs. In this section, James discusses prayer seven times. A grown-up Christian prays when things go wrong in life. He doesn't complain about his situation; instead, he talks to God about it, and God hears and answers his prayers. "Taking it to the Lord in prayer" is a sign of spiritual growth. James told us to pray by giving us four examples of when God answers prayer. First Example: Praying for the Suffering (5:13) The word "afflicted" means "suffering in bad situations." This word has also been translated "in trouble." Paul used this word to talk about what was going on in his life as he suffered for the gospel (2 Tim. 2:9). People who follow God often have to deal with problems that aren't caused by sin or God's punishment. What should we do when things become troubling for us? We shouldn't complain or criticize the saints who are having an easier time (James 5:9), and we shouldn't blame the Lord. We should pray and ask God for the wisdom we need to understand the situation and use it for His glory (James 1:5). If it is God's will, prayer can take away pain. Prayer can also help us endure tough times and do God's will. God can turn problems into successes. Remember, it was James who told us that God gives more grace (James 4:6). Paul asked God to change his situation, but instead, God gave Paul the grace he needed to turn his weakness into strength (2 Cor. 12:7–10). Our Lord prayed in Gethsemane that the cup might be taken away, but it wasn't. However, the Father gave Him the strength. He had to die on the cross for our sins. James said that not everyone has problems at the same time: "Is any merry? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13). God balances our lives by giving us hours of pain and days of singing. A grown-up Christian knows how to sing even when he's in pain. (Anyone can sing once the trouble is over.) God can give "songs in the night" (Job 35:10). He did this for Paul and Silas when they were in jail in Philippi and were in pain. "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25). In the early church, singing and praying were important parts of worship, and they should still be important to us. Our singing should show how we feel about our spiritual life. The believer's praise should be thoughtful (1 Cor. 14:15) and not just saying words or ideas that don't mean anything to God. Genuine praise should come from the heart (Eph. 5:19) and be driven by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Christian singing should come from the Bible (Col. 3:16) and not just from ideas that people have. God likes our singing and songs to be biblical. Third Example of Patient Endurance: Job (5:11-12) - Part 2 of 2
Someone might say, "But if God is so merciful, why didn't He protect Job from all that suffering in the first place?" There are certainly things about how God works that we can't understand, but we do know that this challenging time brought glory to God and made Job better. You only learn endurance by going through something. What did Job's story mean to the people James wrote to, and what does it mean to us now? It means that some of life's problems are caused by the devil directly. God lets Satan test His children, but He always limits how much power the enemy has (Job 1:12; 2:6). When you're in the fire, remember that God is in charge of the thermostat. "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10). The devil wants us to be impatient with God because an impatient Christian is a strong weapon for the devil. You will remember from our study of James 1 that Moses' impatience kept him from going to the Holy Land, Abraham's impatience led to the birth of Ishmael, who was the enemy of the Jews, and Peter's impatience almost made him a murderer. It's easy to get impatient and run ahead of God when Satan attacks us, which can cause us to miss out on God's blessing. What is the answer? "My grace is enough for you" (2 Cor. 12:7–9)! The "messenger of Satan" was Paul's thorn in the flesh. Paul could have fought it, given up, or tried to deny that the thorn was there, but he didn't. He relied on God for the grace he needed and used Satan's weapon to strengthen his own spiritual life. When in the furnace, ask God for the grace to endure (Heb. 4:14–16). Keep in mind that the Lord has a good reason for all of this pain, and He will carry out His plans in His own time and for His own glory. You are not a machine trapped in the clutches of destiny. You are a child of the God who loves you and you are blessed to be part of a wonderful plan. There is a difference! The exhortation in James 5:12 appears incongruous; what relevance does “speaking oaths” have to the issue of suffering? If you've ever been through hard times, you know the answer: it's easy to say things you don't mean and even make deals with God when you're going through difficult times. Job is a good example. The patriarch wrote years ago, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:21–22). Job did curse the day he was born (Job 3:1ff.), but he never cursed God or made a foolish oath. He also didn't try to make a deal with God. James was probably reminding us of what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:34–37). The Jews were excellent at using different oaths to back up what they said. They avoided using God's name in their oaths, though, because they wanted to avoid offending God. So, they would swear by Jerusalem, the earth, heaven, or even their heads! But Jesus taught that you can't get away from God in these kinds of oaths. Heaven is where He sits, earth is where He puts His feet, and Jerusalem is the "city of the great King." What is the purpose of swearing with your head? Jesus said in the Gospels that you cannot make one hair black or white (Matt. 5:36)—or even keep one on your head. A fundamental tenet is that authentic Christian character necessitates minimal verbiage. A person who uses a lot of words (including swearing) to convince us has a character problem and needs to compensate with those words. If you are a Christian and have integrity, people will believe you if you say yes or no. Jesus told us that anything else comes from the devil. One reason for suffering is to help people grow as people. Job was definitely a better person after going through the furnace. James told us about this process in James 1:2–12. If words serve as a measure of character, then oaths demonstrate the ongoing need for improvement. When Peter swore those oaths in the courtyard (Matt. 26:71), it showed that he still needed to change his ways. You can see how useful this part is as you read it. James wanted us to be patient when things are challenging. We are waiting for a spiritual harvest, just like the farmer is. We want fruit that will glorify God. We, like the prophets, look for opportunities to witness and tell the truth about God. And like Job, we wait for the Lord to carry out His loving plan, knowing that He will only allow His children to suffer for a reason. And, like Job, we will see the Lord more clearly and get to know Him better because we have been through challenging times. Be patient, for the Lord is coming soon! Third Example of Patient Endurance: Job (5:11-12) - Part 1 of 2
We think of those who have kept going as blessed (James 5:11). You must have trials to persevere. There can be no victories without fights, and there can be no peaks without valleys. If you desire the blessing, you must be prepared to shoulder the burden and engage in the battle. I once heard a young Christian pray, "O Lord, please teach me the deep truths of Your Word! . . . I want to be taken up to the heavens to hear and see all the amazing things that are there!" He said a real prayer, but I don't think the young man knew what he was asking for. Paul went to the third heaven and learned things that were too wonderful for words. To keep Paul humble, God had to give him a thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:1–10). If God doesn't balance our privileges with our responsibilities and our blessings with our burdens, we will become spoiled, pampered children. When do "blessings" happen? James taught that there is a blessing after we have endured, even though we may experience God's blessings in the middle of trials, like the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3). Job was a good example for him. The Old Testament book of Job is lengthy, and the chapters are full of speeches that seem long and boring to people in the West. Job is very upset in the first three chapters. He loses his health, his money, and his family (except for his wife, who told him to kill himself). In Job 4–31, we read Job's defense as he talks to his three friends and answers their false claims. Job 38–42 tells the story of how God saved Job. First, God humbles Job, and then He honors him and gives him twice as much as he had before. It is important to remember that Job did not know what was going on "behind the scenes" between God and Satan when you study his life. Job's friends said he was a sinner and a hypocrite. They said, 'There must be some terrible sin in your life, or God would never have let you suffer like this.' Job disagreed with them and said he was innocent (but not perfect) the whole time they talked. The friends were wrong: God had no reason to be angry with Job (Job 2:3), and in the end, God scolded the friends for lying about Job (Job 42:7). Job is one of the best examples of someone who has suffered. Things were not going well for him because he lost his money and his health. He also lost his dear children. His wife was against him because she told him to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). His friends were against him because they thought he was a hypocrite and deserved God's judgment. It even looked like God was against him! Heaven did not answer Job when he cried out for answers. But Job kept going. Satan thought that Job would lose faith in God and get frustrated with Him, but that didn't happen. Job did question God's will, but he did not give up on his faith in the Lord. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him." (Job 13:15). Job was so sure that God was perfect that he kept arguing with Him, even though he didn't understand everything God was doing. That is what it means to be strong. God promised Israel that He would bless them if they followed His laws (see Deut. 11). This led to the belief that God blessed people who were rich and comfortable and cursed people who were poor and suffering. Unfortunately, many people still hold onto that incorrect belief today. The disciples were shocked when Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to get into heaven. 'Who can be saved?' they asked (Matt. 19:23–26). They were saying, 'God has blessed the rich more than anyone else . . . if they can't do it, no one can!' The book of Job shows that this idea is wrong because Job was a good man who suffered. God saw no evil in him, and even Satan couldn't find any. Job's friends were unable to substantiate their allegations. Job shows us that God has bigger plans for suffering than just punishing sin. Job's suffering allowed Jesus, the perfect Son of God, to suffer for the world's sins. What was "the end [purpose] of the Lord" in Job's case? The purpose was to demonstrate His abundant compassion and mercy. There were definitely other things that happened because of Job's experience because God never lets His saints suffer for no reason. Job encountered God in a novel and profound manner (Job 42:1–6), subsequently receiving increased blessings from the Lord. Second Example of Patient Endurance: The Prophets (5:10)
A Jewish group would get this simple reference that James made to the prophets in the Old Testament. In his Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:10–12), Jesus cited the prophets as examples of overcoming persecution. What do we learn from their example that gives us hope? They were in God's will, but they still had to go through pain. They preached "in the name of the Lord," but they were still persecuted. Satan says the devout Christian's pain is due to sin or unfaithfulness, but it could be due to faith. Everyone who lives godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). Following the rules does not always make things easier and more fun. Our Lord did what He was sent to do, and it led to a cross! When we suffer for God's sake, the prophets remind us that He cares about us. Elijah told the evil King Ahab that there would be a drought in the land for three and a half years. Elijah had to live through that drought. But God loved him and helped him defeat the evil priests of Baal. Someone has correctly said, "The will of God will never take you where the grace of God can't keep you." Many prophets suffered hardships and pain from both non-believers and supposed believers. Jeremiah was arrested for treason and even thrown into an empty well to die. During the terrible siege of Jerusalem, God fed and protected Jeremiah, even when it looked like the prophet was going to die. The Lord saved both Ezekiel and Daniel from their troubles. Even those who died for their faith and weren't saved were rewarded for their faithfulness and loyalty. Why do people who "speak in the name of the Lord" have to go through challenging times so often? It is often so that we can back up what we say with our lives. Living a faithful and godly life has a lot of power. Being patient in tough times shows others our strength. Many faithful Christians have died and suffered unnoticed and unrecognized. These "obscure heroes" will get their rewards when Jesus comes back. People killed and buried the prophets, but today their names are remembered. When our Lord comes back, He will bring His reward with Him (Rev. 22:12). James used this example from the Old Testament prophets to show us how important it is to read the Bible more and get to know these heroes of faith. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Rom. 15:4). The more we know the Bible, the more God can help us through the challenging times in life. The most important thing is that we keep working, like the farmer, and keep witnessing, like the prophets, no matter how difficult things get. THE STRENGTH OF PATIENCE
When James wrote, "Be patient," he was still talking to the suffering saints. This was his advice at the start of his letter (James 1:1–5) and at the end of it. Until Jesus Christ comes back, God won't fix all the wrongs in this world. We believers must be patient and expect this. James told us three times that the Lord was coming (James 5:7–9). This is what Christians call their "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). We don't expect everything to be easy and comfortable in this life. "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). Paul told the Christians of his day that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Until Jesus comes back, we must be patient and go through difficult times and heartaches. James used two different words to mean "patience." The word "long-tempered" was used in James 5:7–8, 10. The words "endure" and "patience" in James 5:11 literally mean "to stay under" and talk about being able to handle a lot of stress. "Patience" means "to stay where you are and not run away." Many Greek scholars think that "longsuffering" means being patient with people, while "endurance" means being patient with situations or conditions. But the question we need to answer is: How can we, as Christians, show this kind of patient endurance while we wait for the Lord to come back? James provided three examples of patient endurance to address that question and need. First Example of Patient Endurance: The Farmer (5:7–9) An impatient man shouldn't become a farmer. No crops grow overnight (except maybe weeds), and farmers can't control the weather. Too much rain can cause the crop to rot, and too much sun can cause it to burn. A frost that comes too soon can kill the crop. The farmer must be very patient with the weather! He also needs to be patient with the seed and the crop because plants take time to grow. In the fall, Jewish farmers would plow and plant. The "early rain" would make the ground softer. The "latter rain" would come in the early spring, which is February and March for us, and it would help the harvest get ready. The farmer had to wait a long time for his seed to grow fruit. Why did he want to wait so long? The fruit is "precious" (James 5:7). It's worth waiting for the harvest. We will reap in due time if we don't give up (Gal. 6:9). "For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." (Mark 4:28–29). James considered the Christian to be a "spiritual farmer" who was looking for a spiritual harvest. "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts" (James 5:8). The "seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11) and our hearts are the soil. Just like the soil, the spiritual life goes through different seasons. The Lord has to "plow up" our hearts before He can plant the seed (Jer. 4:3). He sends the sun and rain of His goodness to water and care for the seeds that have been planted. We just have to be patient until the harvest. So, here's a secret to getting through tough times: God is making things better in our lives. He wants the "fruit of the Spirit" to grow (Gal. 5:22–23), and the only way He can do that is by putting us through challenging times. We should surrender to God and let the fruit grow instead of getting mad at Him or ourselves. We are "spiritual farmers" who are looking for a profitable crop. You can only enjoy this kind of harvest if your heart is strong (James 5:8). One of the goals of the local church's spiritual ministry is to strengthen the heart (Rom. 1:11). Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to help the new Christians grow in their faith (1 Thess. 3:1–3), and he also prayed for them to grow (1 Thess. 3:10–13). The ministry of the Word of God and prayer is crucial for establishing the heart. An unstable heart is unproductive. Remember that the farmer is always working toward the harvest. He doesn't just stand around doing nothing. James did not tell these hurting Christians to wear white robes, climb a hill, and wait for Jesus to come back. "Keep working and waiting," he told them. “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Luke 12:43). The farmer also doesn't get into fights with his neighbors. One thing that farmers often do is help each other out. No one on the farm has the time or energy to fight with the neighbors. James must have had such an idea in mind when he said, "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned [judged]" (James 5:9). Being impatient with God can make us impatient with God's people, which is a sin we should stay away from. We will miss the harvest if we start using sickles on each other! What Their Wealth Will Do (5:1–4)
The rich thought they were set for life because they had money, but God had other ideas. "Howl for your miseries that shall come upon you" (James 5:1). James talked about what happens when you misuse money. Riches will go away (vv. 2–3a). Grain will rot, gold will rust, and clothes will get holes in them. The word "corrupted" is used in James 5:2 to describe this process. After all, nothing in this world will last forever. Death and decay are part of everything that exists. Wealth does not guarantee safety. Paul said to tell the wealthy in this world not to be proud or put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth (1 Tim. 6:17). We can't be sure about wealth. The stock market and the money market both change from hour to hour. Gold doesn't rust like iron does, but the idea is the same: the gold is losing its value. Life is short, and we can't take our money with us, so it's foolish to live for worldly things. God said to the rich man, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:20). Riches that are used wrong can ruin a person's character (v. 3). "Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire . . . " (James 5:3). This sentence is a present judgment: the poison of wealth has gotten to them, and they are being eaten alive. Money is not bad in and of itself; it is neutral. But "the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Tim. 6:10). "Thou shalt not covet" is the last of the Ten Commandments, but it is the most dangerous. If you want something too badly, you'll break all the other nine commandments. Abraham was wealthy, but he kept his faith and morals. Lot's wealth destroyed his character and, in the end, his family. Having money is fine as long as it doesn't get into your heart. The Psalmist exhorts us not to set our heart on riches if they grow (Ps. 62:10). "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." (Prov. 22:1). There will be judgment (vv. 3, 5). James saw not only a present judgment (their wealth fading and their character eroding), but also a future judgment before God. Jesus Christ will be the Judge (James 5:9), and His judgment will be fair. Take note of the witnesses that God will summon on that day of judgment. First, the wealth of the rich men will testify against them (James 5:3). Their spoiled grain, tarnished gold and silver, and moth-eaten clothes will show how selfish they are. It's ironic that the rich men saved their money to help them, but their hoarded money will only hurt them. The money they didn't pay will also be used against them in court (James 5:4a). Money speaks! These stolen wages cry out to God for justice and fairness. God heard Abel's blood cry out from the ground (Gen. 4:10), and He hears this money that was stolen cry out too. The workers will also speak out against them (James 5:4). There won't be any chances for the rich to pay off the witnesses or the judge. God hears the cries of His people experiencing unfair treatment, and He will render a fair judgment. This decision is crucial. The lost will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11–15). The saved will be judged by Christ (Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:9–10). God will not judge our sins because they were already judged on the cross. Instead, He will judge our works and our ministry. We will get a reward if we have been faithful in serving and praising Him. If we have not been faithful, we will lose our reward but not our salvation (1 Cor. 3:1–15). The loss of a valuable opportunity (v. 3). James thought that the Lord's coming was close when he said "the last days" (see James 5:8–9). We must "redeem the time", that is, buy up the opportunity" (Eph. 5:16) and work while it is day (John 9:4). Think of all the good things that could have been done with that money that was saved up. The church contained impoverished individuals who could have benefited from assistance (James 2:1–6). There were workers who were entitled to their pay. Sadly, the Jewish nation lost and was scattered in a few years, and Jerusalem was destroyed. It is good to have the things that money can buy, but it is also good to have the things that money cannot buy. What good is a house worth $500,000 if it doesn't have a home? Is a diamond ring worth a million dollars worthless without love? James did not criticize wealth or wealthy individuals; he denounced the improper utilization of wealth and wealthy individuals who wield their resources as a weapon rather than as a means for construction. James 2:5 says that you can be "poor in this world" but rich in the next. You can also be "rich in this world" (1 Tim. 6:17) and poor in the next. When Jesus Christ comes back, some people will become poor and others will become rich, depending on how spiritually healthy they are. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21). We lose what we hold on to. Whatever we give to God, He keeps and adds interest to it. A well-known preacher who was known for his long sermons was asked to give the "charity sermon" for the poor every year. Some people said that if he preached for too long, the people in the church might not give as much as they should. The preacher read from Proverbs 19:17: "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." He did give a short sermon: "Put down your money if you like the terms." Yes, money does talk. What will it say to you when you die? James was concerned about how selfish the rich were, so he told them to "weep and howl." He gave three reasons for his advice.
Second Reason: How the Rich Used Their Money (5:3–5) It is bad enough to get rich in a sinful way; using that wealth in sinful ways only makes the sin worse. They put it away (v. 3). There is nothing wrong with saving money. "Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." (2 Cor. 12:14). “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Tim. 5:8). "Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury [interest]" (Matt. 25:27). However, it's not right to store up money when you owe your workers money. These wealthy men were keeping grain, gold, and clothes for themselves. They believed they were wealthy due to their possessions. Instead of using their money to glorify God and store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19ff.), they were selfishly keeping it for their safety and pleasure. The Romans took all of this wealth less than ten years after James wrote this letter. What did Jesus mean when he said to "lay up treasures in heaven"? Did He mean we should "sell everything and give to the poor," like He told the rich young ruler to do? I don't think so. He talked to the rich ruler that way because the young man's biggest sin was greed, and Jesus wanted to show it. To store up treasures in heaven, we must use everything we have as managers of God's wealth. We may have many things, but we don't own them. We are God's stewards, and He owns everything. Aside from God's will, the things we possess and use are merely objects. When we give in to His will and use what He gives us to serve Him, we are investing in eternity, and things become treasures. God keeps the records of what we do on earth and pays the interest. It is sad to see people "heap up treasures for the last days" instead of "laying up treasures in heaven." The Bible encourages saving and investing but discourages hoarding. They kept others from benefiting from it (v. 4). The rich men stole from the poor by lying to them. The wealthy individuals hoarded their resources and refused to compensate their laborers or allow them access to wealth. Maybe they were waiting for their salaries to go down. As caretakers of God's wealth, we have some duties to our Master. We must be faithful and use what He gives us for the benefit of others and the glory of God. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2). Joseph was a competent steward in Potiphar's house, and Potiphar did well. We can use God's riches to help other people. They lived in luxury (v. 5). "Ye have lived in pleasure [luxury] on the earth. . . ." (James 5:5). Being wasteful is a sin. An ad in a magazine told the story of an oil-rich sultan's shopping spree. He bought nineteen Cadillacs, one for each of his wives. He paid extra to have the Cadillacs customized with longer bodies. He also bought a truck to haul his $40,000 speedboat, along with two Porsches, six Mercedes, and an additional truck. Sixteen refrigerators, $47,000 worth of women's luggage, two Florida grapefruit trees, two reclining chairs, and one slot machine are also on the list. He had to pay $1.5 million for everything and another $194,500 to have it all delivered. What a life of luxury! We all appreciate the good things in life, and we would never want to go back to living like animals. But we do know that there is a limit to how much we can get. The Quaker said to his neighbor, "Tell me what you need, and I will tell you how to get by without it." Jesus said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15). James addressed the rich men who were indulging in their wealth while neglecting their own well-being. The Greek word "nourished" depicts cows being fed up for slaughter. It is very different to enjoy what God has given us (1 Tim. 6:17) and to live in luxury on what we have kept from others. We must not waste what we have, even if we earned it lawfully and according to God's will, on selfish living. Too many needs need to be met for us to be a wasteful people. Luxury has a way of ruining character. It is a way to pamper yourself. You can do a lot of good if you match character with wealth, but if you match self-indulgence with wealth, you will sin. The rich men James wrote to would have felt right at home with the people Jesus talked about in Luke 16:19–31. Money Talks (James :1-6)
A famous comedian once said, "If money talks, all it ever says to me is goodbye!" But money wasn't saying goodbye to the men James talked to in this part of his letter. These men were wealthy, and their wealth was sinful. They were using their money for their gain and hurting poor people at the same time. One of the main ideas in James 5 is "trouble." We encounter impoverished individuals deprived of their earnings (James 5:4), alongside those who are physically afflicted (James 5:13–16) and spiritually backslidden (James 5:19–20). James also talked about "prayer" as a second theme. The poor workers cry out to God (James 5:4). People who are sick or hurt should pray (James 5:13–16). He used Elijah as an example of someone who believed in prayer (James 5:17–18). Combining these two ideas leads you to the fifth mark of a mature Christian: he prays when things go wrong. When things get tough, a mature believer doesn't give up; instead, they pray to God and ask for help. The immature person either relies on their experience and skills or seeks assistance from others. It is true that God often meets our needs through other people, but this help must come from prayer. James never said that being rich was a sin. Abraham was a rich man, but he walked with God and was a great blessing to the whole world. James was concerned about how selfish the rich were, so he told them to "weep and howl." He gave three reasons for his advice. First Reason: How They Made Their Money (5:4, 6a) The Bible does not discourage wealth. The law of Moses says exactly how to get and keep money. The Jews in Canaan owned their land, farmed it, and ate what they grew. Jesus showed that He respected private property and personal gain in some of His parables. The Epistles do not say anything that goes against the right to own things and make money. Those who become wealthy illegally or for illicit reasons are condemned by the Bible. Amos, a prophet, sent a loud message of judgment against the rich upper class who stole from the poor and used their stolen money to buy things for themselves. Isaiah and Jeremiah also talked about how selfish the rich are and how judgment is coming. James wrote in this way. He gave two examples of how the wealthy of his day got their money. Withholding pay (v. 4). Workers were hired and paid daily, but they had no contracts. Matthew 20:1–16's story about the workers gives us an idea of how things worked back then. God gave clear instructions in the law about how to treat the working man so that he wouldn't be taken advantage of by his boss. "Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee." (Deut. 24:14–15). "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning." (Lev. 19:13). “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.” (Jer. 22:13). These wealthy men had hired the workers and promised to pay them a certain amount. The men had finished their work but had not yet been paid. The Greek verb translated "kept back" indicates that the workers will never get their pay. God's law still says, "Thou shalt not steal," and He will enforce it. It is our duty as Christians to pay our bills on time. It is a poor testimony for Christians not to pay their bills. The second example James cites of how the wealthy of his day got their money is through controlling the courts. Controlling the courts (v. 6a). It is common for wealthy people to also have political power and be able to get what they want. James asked, "Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?" (James 2:6). That is to say, 'Don't the rich men abuse you and bring you before the courts?' When God put Israel in her land, He set up a system of courts for the people (see Deut. 17:8–13). He told the judges not to be greedy (Ex. 18:21). They were not to favor the wealthy or the impoverished (Lev. 19:15). No judge should have put up with lying under oath (Deut. 19:16–21). The Lord said that bribery was wrong (Isa. 33:15; Mic. 3:11; 7:3). Amos, a prophet, spoke out against judges in his time who took bribes and "fixed" cases (Amos 5:12, 15). It seems that if you had enough money, you could easily control the courts in James' time. The workers were beaten down every time because they couldn't afford expensive lawsuits. The workers had a good reason, but they didn't get what they deserved. Instead, they were mistreated and destroyed. It's likely that the word "killed" should be taken figuratively, like in James 4:2, but it's also possible that the rich men could be so cruel to the poor that they would die. Because the poor man lacked weapons, he didn't fight back against the rich man. He could only ask the Lord for justice. The Bible tells us not to get rich by breaking the law. God owns all wealth (Ps. 50:10); He lets us take care of His wealth for His glory. Proverbs 13:11 reminds us that wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it. "The hand of the diligent makes rich" (Prov. 10:4). Furthermore, Proverbs exhorts us not to weary ourselves in order to gain wealth (Prov. 23:4). We should always put God first in our lives, and He will make sure we have everything we need (Matt. 6:33). But we shouldn't stop at just knowing some of God's will. God wants us to be "full of the knowledge of His will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col. 1:9). It's wrong to want to know God's will selectively. God cares about everything in our lives and has a plan for each part.
God wants us to know what He wants us to do (Eph. 5:17). This is where spiritual knowledge comes into play. A child can know what his father wants, but he might not understand it. The child understands the "what" but not the "why." Being Jesus Christ's "friends" gives us the opportunity to understand why God does what He does (John 15:15). "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel" (Ps. 103:7). The Israelites knew what God was doing, but Moses knew why He was doing it. We must also demonstrate God's will (Rom. 12:2). The English word "prove" in Romans 12:2 is the Greek verb that means "to show by experience." We learn how to find out what God wants us to do by working at it. It is easier to find out what God wants us to do the more we obey. It's like learning to swim or play an instrument. Eventually, you develop a sense of familiarity and ease with your actions. If you keep asking, "How do I know what God wants me to do?" you may be saying you haven't tried to do what God wants. You should take the first action that comes to mind, which you know is the right thing to do. After that, God makes it possible for the next step to happen. You show what God's will is through what you do. We learn from both our successes and our failures. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me" (Matt. 11:29). The yoke means working together and putting into practice what God has taught you. Lastly, we must do what God wants us to do from the heart (Eph. 6:6). Jonah knew what God wanted him to do, and he did it (after getting a spanking), but he didn't do it from the heart. Jonah 4 shows that the bitter prophet didn't love God or the people of Nineveh. He only did what God wanted him to do so he wouldn't get spanked again. Paul's words about giving can also be used to talk about living: "not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). "Grudgingly" means "with pain and reluctance." They don't enjoy doing God's will at all. "Of necessity" means "under compulsion." People do what they're told because they have to, not because they want to. Unfortunately, many people don't really want to do God's will. The key to living a fulfilled life is to enjoy your responsibilities. When duty turns into pleasure, burdens turn into gifts. "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." (Ps. 119:54). When we love God, His laws become songs, and we like serving Him. We may do God's work out of obligation, but we won't be blessed. It will be work, not ministry. But when we do God's will from the heart, we are better off, no matter how difficult it was. We should always think that knowing and doing God's will helps our relationship with Him. We can tell Him about our sins and ask for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We can learn from what went wrong. What's important is a heart that loves God and really wants to do what He wants, which brings glory to His name. What are the good things that happen when you do what God wants? You have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ (Mark 3:35). You are privileged to know God's truth (John 7:17) and to have your prayers answered (1 John 5:14–15). The life and works of the one who does God's will have an everlasting quality (1 John 2:15–17). There is definitely an expectation of reward when Jesus Christ comes back (Matt. 25:34). What do you think about the will of God? Do you consider God's desires when making your daily plans and decisions? Do you know what God wants but choose not to follow it? If so, this attitude is incorrect and can lead to grief and devastation for the individual who possesses it. However, God will bless a Christian who understands, loves, and adheres to God's will. His life may not be easier, but it will be more holy and happy. His food will be God's will (John 4:34), and it will bring him joy and happiness (Ps. 40:8). |
AuthorBible study is crucial for spiritual growth, understanding God and His plan, gaining wisdom for daily life, finding joy and purpose, and building your faith. As you daily engage with Scripture, may God's word equip you to live a godly life and come to a greater place of serving others. Archives
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