James 5:1-11
1: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
James cried out against those who had lived their lives for riches—selfishly and violently guarding their wealth to the point of withholding wages and even condemning and murdering the righteous. Their physical riches will not hold up in the Day of Judgement. They will not be able to protect them. It’s like they’d just fattened themselves for the slaughter. There is more to life than the physical realm we see. The righteous know this, but those whose god is wealth do not (Matthew 6:24).
James then encouraged the brethren in light of their persecution from these rich oppressors. He called for them to have patience, to strengthen their hearts, and endure as Job did—whose outcome was a great blessing. He said to be patient until the coming of the Lord—the time when everything will be properly judged by the Judge Himself and made right.
Be patient as the farmer who waits for both the early and late rains. The rains come to produce the harvest. The final harvest is the blessing we are waiting for at the Lord’s return. The latter rain that precedes His return will be a spiritual outpouring, and a blessing to those looking for His coming.
2: Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3: Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
4: Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5: You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6: You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
7: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
7: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8: You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9: Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10: As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11: We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
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James cried out against those who had lived their lives for riches—selfishly and violently guarding their wealth to the point of withholding wages and even condemning and murdering the righteous. Their physical riches will not hold up in the Day of Judgement. They will not be able to protect them. It’s like they’d just fattened themselves for the slaughter. There is more to life than the physical realm we see. The righteous know this, but those whose god is wealth do not (Matthew 6:24).
James then encouraged the brethren in light of their persecution from these rich oppressors. He called for them to have patience, to strengthen their hearts, and endure as Job did—whose outcome was a great blessing. He said to be patient until the coming of the Lord—the time when everything will be properly judged by the Judge Himself and made right.
Be patient as the farmer who waits for both the early and late rains. The rains come to produce the harvest. The final harvest is the blessing we are waiting for at the Lord’s return. The latter rain that precedes His return will be a spiritual outpouring, and a blessing to those looking for His coming.
James encouraged them not to complain about each other so that they themselves would not be judged and condemned. James said to look to the prophets as examples of those who were patient—those who spoke in the name of the Lord and suffered because of it. Again, the outcome of Job shows the Lord is full of compassion and merciful. He is not blind to our sufferings for Him. Nor does He ignore them or take them lightly. We must allow ourselves to be encouraged, strengthen our hearts, and remain faithful to the Lord. We need to offer each other encouragement, not complaints or condemning judgment.
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