Enduring Faith - James 5:1-12 ______

LESSON 7 … Week of May 31, 2020

ENDURING FAITH - JAMES 5:1-12 ______

James 5:1-12 has two subtitles, “warning to the rich,” and “patience in suffering.” As Chapter 5 begins, James’ words are some of the most stinging in the Bible as he tells the rich they will weep and howl for the miseries coming their way. To weep is to respond to a disaster from the depths of the soul, in grief and remorse. Lamentations 1:1-2 uses this word as it compares Jerusalem in Babylonian captivity to a widow who weeps bitterly in the night with tears on her cheeks, with no one to comfort her as all her friends have become enemies. The word is also used in Luke 22:62 where Peter weeps bitterly after he realizes he denied knowing Jesus. To howl is the result of sudden and unexpected evil and regret. This Greek word is a hapax legomenon, a word used here by James only this once in the New Testament.

Most commentators believe that James is addressing wealthy individuals outside of the church as encouragement for unjust treatment done to those within the church. There is nothing in the Bible that says it is wrong to be rich; the Bible has notable examples of those who are wealthy, like Job and Abraham in the Old Testament and Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea in the New Testament. The significance of James’ teaching is found in Verses 2-6, as he writes prophetically to the rich who have not used their wealth to relieve the sufferings of others, remembering one of the themes of the letter: a true Christian community has a responsibility to care for widows and orphans. James uses metaphors to allow his readers to visualize this teaching. He writes that the riches of the wealthy are rotted and their garments are moth-eaten. Riches are cultural, and in first century Palestine, wealth was measured in fruits and grains, items that would spoil if they were stored for a future day. Garments were also evidence of wealth, and if they were not worn but stored away in the heat, they would be eaten by moths. James uses gold and silver figuratively to show that these precious metals are worthless if put away for the future. These three illustrations help us to understand James’ warning not to hoard riches when they can be used to help others. We are reminded of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19-21:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

James then calls attention to the practices and lifestyle of the wicked wealthy, which lead to condemnation and murder of the righteous. The practice of paying wages late or even cheating a worker out of his wages was common in ancient Israel, and Old Testament passages in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Jeremiah speak against it. James reminds his readers that the ears of the Lord hear the cries of those people, referring to the Lord as the “Lord of Hosts.” The Hebrew word for hosts is Sabaoth, and this majestic name for God portrays Him as commander of the heavenly army. As Lord of hosts, God defends the poor and oppressed against the wealthy who abuse

29 them. An earthly life of pleasure, characterized by luxury and overindulgence, leads to torment in the next life, and Jesus illustrates this in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19- 31). James 5:6 is a final word of condemnation to the wealthy who do not care for those in need, “You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He will not condemn you.” In James 4:2, murder was possibly used metaphorically, but here it may be literal. The laborer in Palestine was paid very little, and if those wages were withheld, it could lead to starvation and death for not only him but for his family as well. It is confusing as to whom “He” is in the final part of this verse, and commentaries present two options. If “He” refers to God, then God will not condemn (other translations use oppose or resist) the wealthy in doing evil. They have already earned their judgment. If “He” refers to the righteous person, the humble laborer could not, by position in life, condemn, oppose, or resist the wealthy landowner.

Patience is the theme of James 5:7-12; the word itself or a synonym appears six times in just five verses. James writes that we are to face life with patience as we wait for the coming of the Lord. Here, the tone is softer than the previous section; three times James calls his readers “brothers.” We were encouraged in James 1 to face trials with joy because they produce endurance, and there too, James addresses his audience as “brothers.” James reminds us that the end result of our unwavering commitment to God will be perfect, complete, and lack nothing, and that will only happen at the end of earthly life for a believer or when Christ comes again. The Greek word for patience, makrothumia, is defined as long-suffering with self-restraint in the face of provocation. It is the opposite of anger, associated with mercy, and used of God in both the Old and New Testaments. One of the early church fathers writes that James and his brother, Jude, were farmers, therefore, James had firsthand experience as he uses yet another metaphor. Farmers patiently wait and depend upon the early and late rains, the first due soon after sowing the seed and the second when the crop is ripening. References to earlier and later rains are used throughout the Old Testament as affirmation that God will be true to His promises if people are faithful to the Commandments. The farmer’s patience was characterized by confidence, knowing that God is reliable. In the same way, the believer lives with patience through the challenging circumstances of life, confidently anticipating the Lord’s return.

James reminds his readers in Verse 9 not to grumble against one another while they wait for the Lord’s coming, because “the Judge is standing at the door.” In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said to the Church in Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” The Laodicea church was described as “lukewarm,” and it boasted about its wealth and need of nothing. Jesus said of that church, “I will spit you out.” James’ warning is to be taken seriously by the church yet today. In Verses 10-11, James references prophets as biblical examples of those who waited patiently as they suffered, blessed as they spoke for the Lord. He specifically mentions Job, who, as a result of his suffering, gained greater knowledge of God.

James 5:12 concludes our reading for this week with a warning not to swear by oaths. While commentaries are divided on whether this verse belongs here or as part of the following passage, James 5:13-18, the opening phrase, “but above all,” seems to associate this verse with this week’s passage. Lack of patience in times of stress or affliction often leads to use of the Lord’s name in vain, even as we remember the warning of the third Commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Deuteronomy 5:11). Once again it appears that James is reiterating Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:33-37, part of the Sermon on the Mount:

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Verse 12 reminds us that our words should reflect our reverence for God, and it ends with, “let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” One commentator quotes an old saying in relation to this statement, “people should say what they mean and mean what they say.”

As you begin the week’s study, consider these questions and share with your group as you are comfortable doing so.  What do you hold on to that might be used to help others?  What do you get impatient about?

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QUESTIONS FOR WEEK 7 – MAY 31 - ENDURING FAITH - JAMES 5:1-12

1. Read James 5:1-6. What does James say about wealth? Read the following verses; how do they complement James’ teaching?

Proverbs 10:22 Ecclesiastes 5:10-13 Ezekiel 16:49-50

Mark 10:17-27 1 Timothy 6:9-10

2. Read James 5:7-11 and note how James uses the word patience or a synonym of it. What do we learn about patience? What do the scriptures below teach us about God’s patience, and how can this teaching help us as we patiently face the challenges of living in a pandemic?

Exodus 34:6-7 Romans 2:4 1 Peter 3:20

3. We are to be patient until the “coming of the Lord.” The Greek word, Parousia, the Lord’s return, is used by James to give hope to those who are suffering. What does James teach about the second coming in 5:7-8?

4. Several artists have portrayed Jesus knocking on a door, based on Revelation 3:20, one of which appears below. In Verse 9, James tells his readers that “the Judge is standing at the door.” Read about the Laodicea church in Revelation 3:14-22.

What do you notice about the picture, and how does it relate to the church in Laodicea and the church today? (Note: go to Google Images and search on “painting, Jesus knocking on door” to see some of the pictures in color)

5. Read Matthew 5:33-37; how does it help us to understand James’ teaching in Verse 12?

6. How do you feel about the phrase “OMG”, used so frequently today?

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JAMES 5:1-12 FOR FAMILIES

1. In James 5:1-6, James tells those who are rich that they will weep and howl because they do not use their riches to help others. Weeping is to respond to something disastrous from the depths of the soul. Ask children what makes them weep? How would you make a weeping sound? To howl is even more serious, it’s the result of a something bad that comes suddenly and is not expected. What might make you howl? What would that sound like?

2. In James’ time, wealth was measured in fruits and grains, items that spoiled if they were kept for a future day (no refrigerators!). Clothing not worn but stored away in the hot temperatures in Palestine would be eaten by moths (no mothballs!), and gold and silver is worthless if saved for the future. Talk about what you might be holding onto that could help others in need. Choose something to share with someone in need.

3. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus talks about what real treasure is, He told the people not to hang on to tangible things but to look to heaven and the treasures that wait for them there. Decorate a treasure box with crayons, markers, stickers, etc. Add slips of paper from time to time listing true “treasures” – blessings, answered prayers, things to be thankful for in this season of life.

4. In James 5:7-11, James writes about patience as we wait for Jesus to come again. Talk about patience, and have each family member list things that cause them to lose patience, especially in this season of being at home together. Pray for patience for each person.

5. James uses an example of a farmer, having patience until the two rains come that allow the crops to grow. Plant something from a vegetable scrap and watch it grow (see https://www.pinterest.com/pin/128000814389601246/).

6. Choose one or more of the following things below from James 5:1-12 and draw a picture: - The Parasouia or second coming of Christ (see Acts 1:9-11). Bonus: draw what it looked like when Jesus came the first time as a baby. - In Verse 4, James refers to the Lord as the Lord of hosts, commander of God’s heavenly army. What do you think God’s heavenly army looks like? - In Verse 9, James writes, “the Judge is standing at the door.” In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Draw Jesus knocking on a door.

7. James writes in Verse 12 not to swear an oath. Remind children of the third Commandment, not to take the Lord’s name in vain, and talk about why it is wrong to use the common expression, “OMG.”