James
Chapter 5
Vs. 1-6 James is telling what will happen to the rich in the future. They may be happy now with all their riches. They may think they are better than everyone now because they are rich.
The believers may be jealous of the rich of their money and power.
But James warns them that the riches will all go away someday. And those rich people will have nothing because they trusted in their riches.
Some of those rich people got rich because they were not honest with others. They did not pay them what they should have.
Some even killed people who got in their way.
Vs. 7-12 James is talking to the believers he calls them brothers and sisters.
He tells them to be patient. When the Lord returns all will be well for the believers.
(Many of the believers had a hard time. Other people hated them for the way they believed. It was hard to get work. Sometimes other people would destroy things that belonged to the believers– they were just to being mean to them.
It would be easy to be jealous of other people when you were having such a hard time just because of what you believed.
We are seeing things change in America these days. Much talk has been against Christians especially, Evangelical Christians.
People spit out the word Evangelical Christian like it is a dirty word.
I think that more and more it will become hard for Christians in America.
Then we will understand better what those first believers were going through.)
James says: Just like a farmer waits for the rain so his crops will grow, so the believers must wait for the Lord to return and make things right.
James says Do not complain and say bad things about each other——or God will judge you.
James says: The Lord is standing at the door ready to return.
(All of the disciples and believers felt and believed that Jesus’ return would be soon. They would never have expected Jesus to wait 2000 years before returning.
We, too, believe that Jesus will return soon. Some would say—Yes, just like the disciples and look how wrong they were it has been 2000 years!
Well, it is good to expect Jesus at any time and keep your heart ready.
But, we do have prophecy that has been fulfilled since the disciples were on earth. And we can check off many of those prophecies that have been fulfilled.
The next prophecy that we expect to happen is a war in the Middle East where all those nations around Israel come against Israel. It will be more than Israel can fight.
Israel will not have any nations helping her.
God will be watching. At just the right time, when it looks like Israel will lose—-God is going to make the earth do terrible things volcano, storms, hail, earthquakes huge trouble! It will kill 5/6 of the men in all of the armies fighting. Only 1/6 of the men will be alive.
Israel will live and be okay. The other nations will lose and be destroyed.
We watch the news watch Israel and what is happening over there. We can see things coming together.
So the return of Jesus is near. Be ready.)
Vs. 10 James reminds them of men from the Old Testament we had to suffer trouble and pain—-like Job—-like the prophets. In the end, Job was blessed and so were the prophets.
Vs. 12 James warns them about making vows, or promises. He said do not be quick to make a vow or promise. Just say yes, you will do it or no, I won’t do it.
Do not be putting yourself into a serious promise/vow legally (by earth) or putting your hand on the Bible (by heaven). Do not be quick to do that. Be careful.
Vs. 13 James asks Are there any among you who are having problems and are suffering? Pray to God to help you with the problem.
Is there any one who is merry, happy? Let him sing songs and be happy.
Vs. 14 Is there any among you who are sick? Let them call for the leaders in the church to anoint them with oil and pray for them in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up.
And anyone who has done sins they will be forgiven.
Vs. 16 Confess your sins one to another and pray for each other so that you will be healed.
(My thoughts about this: You may find it helpful to confess your sins to someone you can trust to keep your business a secret. You may not want the whole town or church to know your business.
If you have cheated on your wife and you tell it to the whole church it may not be the best idea.
I think James is talking about sharing your temptations and weaknesses to sin with someone you trust. So they can pray with you. So they can check on you to help you stay on the right path.
Going around telling everyone all of your sins does not seem wise.
You can confess all of your sins to God.
If you hurt someone you should go to them and confess your error and ask for forgiveness.
James may also be talking about healing of a sickness and that a person should confess their sin so that God will heal them. Keeping sin in your life, may keep you from being healed.
However, just because you are sick does not mean you have sin in your life.
But some people’s sin may be the reason for their sickness.
Vs. 16 A serious determined deep prayer of a righteous person will have much influence and do much good.
Vs. 17 Elijah, a prophet in the Old Testament, did many wonderful miracles, yet he was a person just like us. He prayed for the rain to stop and it stopped for 31/2 years.
He prayed for the rain to begin and it poured down. Everything began to grow.
Vs. 19 If anyone among you the believers goes away from the faith and goes back to sin and if someone talks to him and he comes back to the church group again then that person who brought him back has done a very good thing and has saved a sinner from death/hell.