James 5:1-12
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4 Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, 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 pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
What does the Passage say?
V. 1-6 The riches that James is warning are the ones who put their riches priority before God and others. Their life security and stability has been the most important value in their life. Therefore, they put God behind and also their neighbors.
V. 7-12 On the other hand, James is encouraging the ones, who put God in the priority of their life, and as a result suffering. James says, “wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival” (v. 7 The Message). When the Kingdom comes, ones who did not put God first in their lives and the ones who did put God first enduring their lives will see a different revelation.
What does the Passage say to me/us?
Christianity is a journey of letting go and having more of God in our life. In this journey, we continue to invite God to be the Lord of our life. When God reigns in the center of our lives, we will experience the fullness of life. It might not guarantee the wealth of the world. It might accompany some difficulties. However, it is worthy to follow. It is worthy enough to give up our lives.
That is the reason why we need to honestly look into our lives and ask ‘ Is Christ in the center of my life?’
Prayer
Lord, reign in our lives with your power. Help us to let go of anything that we still hold onto, instead of your Lordship. Cast away all our idols and help us to follow you faithfully.
In Christ name, AMEN.
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