Patients in Suffering

Background

Written AD 49 by James to the Messianic (Christian) Jews. James Hebrew name Jacob, half brother of Jesus address Christians who had become arrogant: showing favoritism to the wealthy, using their words to harm others, and failing to serve people in need. While salvation is by faith in Jesus, James reminds readers that having faith doesn’t excuse anyone from living out their faith by doing good things God has called them to do.

Recap

In James 1 we talked about perseverance, more specifically “Joy in the mist of trials”. Where as in chapter 2 the key verse James 2:26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” While looking in chapter 3 we focused in on words and wisdom, and being known by our fruits and being amongst the blessed as peace makers. And last week in chapter 4 we learned about humility and asking to receive in service to God, not in love with the world. Finally, we come to the end of James with three over arching themes:

Judgement for Rich Oppressors

James 5:1–6 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

Romans 3:16 “in their paths are ruin and misery,”

Patients to the Oppressed

What to do: James 5:7–8 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

What not to do: James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”

Example: James 5:10–11 “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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.”

Your word: James 5:12 “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

All Believers Should Pray in every Circumstance

James 5:13–15 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

One another: James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Like Us: James 5:17–18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

1 Kings 17:1 “Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

Nesibbah: Circumstance is a turn of affairs or environment (Latin prefix “circum”-means “around”)

Closing

James 5:19–20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

624Think lightly of hell, and you will think lightly of the cross. Think little of the sufferings of lost souls, and you will soon think little of the Savior who delivers you from them.—12.174

Charles Spurgeon