Good morning! Beautiful day yesterday! And another nice one today!
I forgot to post this yesterday- here is a photo of a coral fungus I saw on my walk from Friday. The forest is full of mushrooms of all colors and sizes and shapes!
Today is our last day in James; I have really enjoyed his words and (I have said a few times) I can see a sermon series coming from this! Tomorrow we start Peter's letters- another set of beautiful words that we don't hear too much about!
James takes another hit at the rich. I don't think James is against richness, it is how the rich use their wealth for influence and power. I think James is good with the rich, as long as they are good Christian, wholesome people, doing the work of God. Wealth often presents an obstacle to the kingdom of God, and I think that is the "warning" that James has. James calls on the rich to look at their wages and earnings and consider their possible destiny: how did they treat those that worked for them (were they fair and just?); how were they to the common people; were they doing God's work; what was their attitude (vv 1- 6). James' words sound much like Dante's Inferno! He talks of fire and flesh being eaten! When we think of the rich- how do we view them? What are our comments about "them"? Are there differences between the various "classes" of rich people?
James somewhat switches his emphasis to other people and reminds them to be patient. We have heard that theme many times before! James calls for judgement against the rich, and now he reminds others to be patient and wait for the time to come. Like a farmer- wait with hope, with anticipation of the coming harvest, be anxious for goodness! While we are patient for our "crops" we should also be patient with the people around us (v 9). Waiting causes us to become tense and anxious, but we need to be calm and wait with hope! As an example, he reminds us to look at the prophets (vv 10-11). None of them saw the completion of what they were prophesying and some (Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, et al.) suffered much in their waiting!
Finally, James turns to prayer and the constant need of prayer and praise to God (vv 13- 14). Instead of complaining about our current situations, give God thanks for what we have and what we are now able to do. James has the same advice for the suffering and the cheerful- take it to the Lord! Do we? God does answer prayer (v 15). However, God may not answer them the way we want! James also has us look at our relationships with others; he is suggesting that we have close, intimate relationships with people and pray for them and sit and talk about real things (v 16). James is all about close personal relationships with others. We should be able to confront those in our circle that we see straying from the truth (vv 19-20). Good people just don't turn away from God, but they wander and get lost. It is up to others to help bring them back and get them back on track. Can you do that? Confront someone going the wrong way and bring them back?
And then James ends abruptly! No closing words, no promise of visits, no praise! Quite different than what we read in Paul's letters!
Tomorrow we start the letters from Peter. I will post an introduction later so we can get an idea of what Peter is about.
Have a good day.
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
James does seem to have a definite theme. Most of it about speaking unkindly or even with evil intent. From yesterday's reading I really liked vs. 7 and 8 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will fall from you. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hand, ye sinners; and purify your hears, ye double minded." Definite words to live by.
ReplyDeleteIN this Chapter James does go back to banishing the rich and I wonder if there is so much talk about the rich being bad - not only here but in the Bible, is so that people that are poor will not envy them? Because, if a person who is poor (or middle class) suddenly becomes rich for whatever reason, do they suddenly use their money for bad? As you stated, Pastor - that James was against the way the rich used their money - so does money make you bad if you were originally a good person? I am thinking no. I think you can use money, power, words, actions - all of those things - rather rich or poor for bad or for good. After all, the apostles, especially Paul, as we know, lived "off" the rich - it was the rich who supported the apostles AND it was the rich who donated most of the money to support the poor. As in today's world - it is those with money who support most of the charities - not saying that those who are less fortunate don't support, they just don't have the money to do as much. I don't think there are classes - there are just good people and bad - no matter your circumstances.
Vs. 16 in my translation says to "confess your faults one to another" - not sure I can do that - confess to God - yes, but to others? hmmmm. But even though James gives the example of Elias praying for no rain and it stopped and then praying for rain and it does, we all know that sometimes, no matter how good we are as Christians, we don't get what we pray for.
Loved the pic!!
Love the photo of the coraL mushroom different and pretty.
ReplyDeleteJames doesn't seem to have much love for the wealthy. He doesn't say that the wealthy can be good people also they could give to the poor and share their wealth if they don't let it rule them they should be fine???
James reminds me a little of John the Baptist in this chapter at times He asks for prayers and asks for us to share our sins with each other. I'm not sure how I feel about this . Is this necessary
to do if we confess to Jesus and ask for forgiveness isn't this what God wants us to do If we commit as sin against someone I do think that we should talk with that person however and ask for their
forgiveness.
Looking forward to reading next from Peter
It does seem bat James plainly dislikes some things and speaks very plainly about them.
ReplyDeleteHe speaks out against riches but not the worthlessness of the rich. Everyone knows that money is important to living. But loving and worshipping money is a problem. Being treated as better because you have money is not good. Being oppressed by those that have money is not good.
James has told us that having a sharp tongue is harmful, the rich oppressing the poor isn’t good, but we need to have faith and pray often. A good message