James Answers - Chapter 5

JAMES 5     What is James saying will happen to the rich in this life? vs. 1 They will weep and howl for their miseries. Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you [TNIV] What will happen to their riches and garments? vs. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. What will happen to their gold and their silver? vs. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. Who will cry out against the rich? vs. 4a Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; Where have their cries ascended to? vs. 4b The outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. The rich had lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure. Who did they condemn and put to death? vs.6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; Because God will repay those who have afflicted us, what should we be patient for? vs. 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. What does God compare our waiting for the Lord to? vs. 7 The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. James said for us to be patient and strengthen our hearts. What is near? vs. 8 The coming of the Lord is near. What are we not to do as we wait for "the Judge" to come from heaven? vs. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another. Who should we look at for an example of suffering and patience? vs. 10 The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. (vs.11) ...When we see the outcome of Job, what do we learn about the Lord's dealings with him? vs. 11 That the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. What should we make sure not to do above all things? vs. 12 Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; What should our word be so that we may not fall under judgment? vs. 12 Your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. What should we do when we are suffering? vs. 13 He must pray. What should we do when we are cheerful? vs. 13 He is to sing praises. What should we do when we are sick? vs. 14 He must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. What will a prayer offered up in faith by the elders of the church do for you when you are sick? vs. 15 - Name 3 things It will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and sins will be forgiven. Note: Restore is a "time word" and the prayers of faith begin the "process" of restoration. Do we take God at His Word? Do we have elders in our church that will pray the prayer of faith for us when we need them in times of illness? Praise God for His servants in your life that are there to help in this way. Many times, we need spiritual "healing". How is this accomplished in our lives? vs. 16 Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. What can the effective prayers of a righteous man accomplish? vs. 16 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. You can read about his prayers and the results that are given here in James in the historical account of I Kings 17-19. He was making a stand against the idolatry to the prophets of Baal, and He was showing that God was the One with power and authority over nature and lives. James tells us that he prayed "earnestly" or "fervently" that it would not rain. What was the result of his prayer? vs. 17 It did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. At the end of that time, Elijah prayed again. What happened when he prayed again? vs. 18 The sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. How does Elijah's prayer life encourage you today? What challenges are you praying fervently for at this time in your life? Nothing is impossible for God. James spoke to his Jewish brethren scattered around, telling them to help any who were straying from the truth of the gospel to get back on track with the truth. (vs.19) For those who turn a sinner from their error, what have they done for him? vs. 20 - Name 2 things will save his soul from death will cover a multitude of sins Is there someone you need to be praying for and helping get back to the truth of God's Word again today? Begin with prayer and follow up with a conversation with them soon. Amen. As you think through chapter 5, what things do you want to remember? Look back through the 5 chapters of James and list the verse that stood out to you from the book, which will be a great way to review and keep this book in your mind and heart. Write a summary and post a prayer if you would like. POINTS TO PONDER: INTERPRETATION: What does the text mean? One of the themes that runs through James 5 is trouble. We meet poor people deprived of their wages (James 5:4), as well as people who are physically afflicted (James 5:13–16), and spiritually backslidden (James 5:19–20). A second theme that James introduced is prayer. The poor laborers cry out to God (James 5:4). The sick and afflicted should pray (James 5:13–16). He cited Elijah as an example of one who believed in prayer.  James 5:17–18. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Jas 5). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. PERSONAL INSIGHTS: APPLICATION: How can I apply this to my life? The Bible warns us against the securing of wealth by illegal means. God owns all wealth (Ps. 50:10); He permits us to be stewards of His wealth for His glory. “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it” (Prov. 13:11, nasb). It is “the hand of the diligent that makes rich” (Prov. 10:4). “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth” (Prov. 23:4). We must put God first in our lives, and He will see to it that we always have all that we need (Matt. 6:33). A mature Christian is prayerful in troubles. Instead of giving up when troubles come, the mature believer turns to God in prayer and seeks divine help. The immature person trusts in his own experience and skill, or else turns to others for help. While it is true that God often meets our needs through the hands of other people, this aid must be the result of prayer. This brings us to the end of our study of James. His emphasis has been spiritual maturity. This would be a good time for us to examine our own hearts to see how mature we really are. Here are a few questions to assist you: Am I becoming more and more patient in the testings of life? Do I play with temptation or resist it from the start? Do I find joy in obeying the Word of God, or do I merely study it and learn it? Are there any prejudices that shackle me? Am I able to control my tongue? Am I a peacemaker rather than a troublemaker? Do people come to me for spiritual wisdom? Am I a friend of God or a friend of the world? Do I make plans without considering the will of God? Am I selfish when it comes to money? Am I unfaithful in the paying of my bills? Do I naturally depend on prayer when I find myself in some kind of trouble? Am I the kind of person others seek for prayer support? What is my attitude toward the wandering brother? Do I criticize and gossip, or do I seek to restore him in love? Don’t just grow old—grow up Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Jas 5). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

--