James 4:13-5:20

The Time is Short

Constantine: Baptism on death bed

Enjoy your youth, you can be “good” when you’re older

On the contrary: (v. 4:13-17)

This is foolish, since we do not know the number of our days

Our time is short, as recent tragedies remind us

Every day is a gift and blessing from God (v. 15)

Thus there is urgency in following Christ. The time is now.

Additionally: (v. 5:1-6)

So why be caught up in worldly things?

If we really believe what we say we do, then the riches of this world should not appeal to us

Matt 6:19-21

The New Revised Standard Version Concerning Treasures

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Consider also the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31)

Injustice will swiftly be made right by God. The unjust will answer for their crimes. (v. 3, 5)

The time to do what is right is now (v. 4:17).

Eyes Set Ahead

We must develop an eschatological lens for the world. Our eyes must be set ahead. (v. 5:7)

We must live in the present in light of the future to come.

Yet we live in a sin-sick world

This is why James calls for endurance and patience

As we live out the gospel, like Christ, we will be met with resistance and even hostility

We will also see, quite aside from evil aimed at us, evil seeming to prevail in the world

A prophetic call (v. 5:10-11)

Endure as the prophets and Job.

Develop a prophetic voice

Prophets point are unafraid to call out the evil they see, and also to speak to a counter-narrative. Things do not have to be as they are

Be the Light

As part of our prophetic witness and eschatological lens, we must become a light in the dark.

The world is sick, and the days are evil. So the time is now for us to be the light.

The world is divided, we must be united.

Isolation and selfish individualism as key cause of current cultural degradation

Answer? Prayer as prophetic witness:

In suffering

In Cheer and Joy

In sickness and death

Why? Prayer as unity

Union with God (v. 15)

Union with one another (v. 16)

Necessity of true honesty, openness, confession, accountability, (v. 16, 19-20)