James: Faith that Works Part 16

You must be responsive to the will of God.

James 4:17 ESV

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What is sin - Sin is doing what God said for us not to do. An example for this is eating the fruit in the garden.

Sin is doing the wrong thing.

The bible not only gives a thou shalt not… The bible also provides a thou shalt...

Thou shalt not…It also includes a thou shalt...

Sin is also not doing the right thing.

James 4:17 ESV

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

“Fails to to it”

But what about the person who sees repeatedly in God’s Word that we should care for the poor, particularly our brothers and sisters in Christ who are poor, and does nothing? If we continually ignore and disregard this command, then according to James, this too is sin. And the consequences are just as severe. As we’ve seen, in Jesus actually tells people who have ignored the poor to depart into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! This should cause us to realize that it is eternally serious to ignore the poor. Faith that lasts is obedient to the will of God.

Platt, David. Exalting Jesus In James (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Biblical Christianity is not only about avoiding immorality it is also about living righteously.

What does this look like in reality? It might be that we’re becoming more and more irregular in our church attendance. We’re not making meeting with God’s people a priority. Things are just too busy, we say. “Life’s a bit manic at the moment.” spending time in daily prayer or Bible study, consciously enjoying the presence of God. “I’ve got too many other things going on at the moment. Maybe when things calm down a bit…” Or perhaps we know deep down that we’re not serving the people God has placed around us as we ought to be. Our spouse and kids are getting the bare scraps of our time.

You must be concerned about the judgment of God.

You must have confidence in the justice of God.

James 5:1–7 ESV

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 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. 4 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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. 7 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.

Consider the immediate application.

There were those who knew to do right but didn’t. They didn’t take care of those in their charge.

They didn’t do right by them.

James 5:4 ESV

4 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.

Consider the eternal implications.

Judgment is coming.

James 5:1 ESV

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

James 5:5 ESV

5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Judgment never falls on God’s people.

Judgment is inevitable for the sinful.

You must be patient in suffering for God.

You must be patient in suffering for God.