This is a Blogger Small Group entry in partnership with Run’n Like a Vagabond.
James 5:1-6 = I keep thinking of the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. I think we all understand, and should be careful to point out, that neither James nor Jesus proclaimed being rich is a sin, it is just another impediment to giving oneself to the Gospel. There are two really pointed things I see here.
First, in verse 3, James talks about the passing, temporary nature of riches. Yet we will often hoard it like we are running out of time. Ironically, the less time you have left on earth, the less you need to hoard for the future. Funny how we grab onto something we can’t take with us, gives us no status in the afterlife, and will not help us out in the long run. Even more ironic that Jesus taught that if we give, even more will be given to us in return.
Second, in verse 4, James points out the unethical behavior that may have contributed to the accumulated wealth. Have you ever noticed that, the more we have, the more we worry about it? The more we have, the more concerned we become with counting it, protecting it, accumulating it; possibly even to the point of making unethical decisions we otherwise would never make in order to maintain our riches.
James 5:7-9 = These are fantastic verses when read as they should be, in direct relation to the previous six. Even more fantastic when they are read with the eyes of one aware of our credit-ridden lifestyles. All that stuff we buy on credit, did we really need it? Maybe we just wanted it? Either way, how would our lives have been adversely affected if we had just had the patience to save up money and wait to pay cash rather than pay on credit.
James 5:10-11 = Oh sure, bring up Job. Here’s a royally rich guy who lost it all, and probably had enough clout to get loans from his friends and neighbors. However, look at his patience and reliance on God to get him through and provide his needs. I think that worked out for him pretty well.
James 5:12 = Read this verse in light of what I’ve been saying about credit vs. cash/get in now vs. patience. “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned.” I know this is harking back to controlling our tongues and speaking the truth at all times, but in context I think James is taking a jab at the whole riches and credit thing. I’m sitting here wondering, if I swipe my credit card, is that the same as swearing in some way? Just a thought.
James 5:13-16 = Here’s the no-brainer practicality of James. This stuff is Christianity 101. Are you in trouble? Pray (duh)! Are you happy? Sing! Are you sick? Get the elders to annoint you with oil and pray over you. (Man, we’ve really dropped the ball on this on in the tradition I’m a part of. I think we’d split the church if we did this, and maybe that’s a good thing.)
If you have sinned, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. I could go on and on with this one, and in fact I did just last week.
James 5:17-18 = “Elijah was a man just like us.” I love this statement. Sometimes we erroneously think the heroes of the Bible were some kind of super-spiritual beings, but that’s just not true. They had two things going for them, no always in this order: they were chosen/called by God, and they humbled themselves and made themselves available. Look at the results:
Because of Elijah’s earnest prayer, there was no rain for three and a half years. He prayed again and the heavens gave rain. According to verse 17, the same could be said for us. I really need to take to heart and enact verses 13-18.
James 5:19-20 = Want to know what the vocation of every Christ-follow is? Read these two verses carefully. We are ministers of reconciliation. Christ has given us the ministry of restoring lives by introducing them to the Great High Priest, and by reintroducing those who’ve fallen away to his grace.
This is the vocation of EVERY Christ-follower, not just the pastors and full-timers.
