1. What does this passage say? And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today at the latest, tomorrow we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
2. What does this passage mean? It is great to have goals, but we are not to leave God out of them. The future is in God's hands, so no use in making plans without including Him. Plan ahead if you must, but plan loosely and know that God can step in at any moment and rearrange your plans.
Life is short. You have once chance to get this thing down; one chance to love the way God wants you to love. So get to doing your Father's work. This way no matter when your life ends you will have fulfilled God's plan for you.
Sin is not only doing what is wrong, but it is also not doing what is right. When God tells us to do something, we need to listen and do what He is telling us to do.
3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened? That He wants me to be a part of His plans and purposes and for me to not forget that.
4. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed? Yes.
5. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow? Pray, seek the Lord, invite Him to shine light in the dark corners of my soul.
6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God? Sin and distractions get in my way of listening to God.
7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it? I need to slow down to listen more effectively to the Lord.
8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone? My spiritual journey thus far and what He has done in my life.
Additional Questions:
1. Do you know what will happen tomorrow? Does having no control of the future frighten you or give you comfort? I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. It does not frighten me. I can only speculate and make tentative plans, but ultimately I know it is all in His hands. That makes me feel secure actually.
2. How do you tend to plan things in your life from a shopping trip to determining what job or school to undertake? As far as shopping trips go and things like that, I take care of my responsibilities. For jobs or schools, prayer, seeking wise counsel, reading God's Word, etc. is utilized. I normally wait for 3 confirmations unless the Lord speaks very loudly.
3. We tend to govern our lives by what we want, not always what is best for us. Why would a Christian do this? Why would we seek to make plans without God? Because we are concerned with our own happiness instead of God's happiness.
4. Do you wonder what the Lord wills for you? What happens when God is just an afterthought in your plans? What happens when we claim that our own will and power are supreme? I try to stay in God's will, seeing where He is working and then being a part of what He is doing. Whenever God is an afterthought or whenever He is left out, things get all jacked up. It is not a pretty picture. I usually have ended up wasting a lot of time. It is pretty sad.
5. Why do you suppose that many Christians will seek to spin their wheels, trying to guess and even demanding their might and will in making plans, hoping for the best? What is left out? Have you done this? If so, how and why? Yes, I have spun my own wheels more times than I would like to admit. Leaving God out of our plans is unfulfilling. We normally act in our will to fulfill something we want only to come up empty. Only God can fill us to the point where we are actually satisfied.
6. Why is it that our plans and ways are not sovereign? If you understood this point, do you think that, as a Christian, you could be better at planning your life? If I was better at planning my life, I wouldn't need God. It is in part knowing that when I plan on my own that I wreck, it is just further confirmation that I am so in need of my Savior.
7. How would you define being presumptuous? How have you experienced it in your ways and that of others? What have you observed in others or yourself when you seek wealth and trust in abilities and plans, while ignoring the providential, sovereign reign of God in your life? Whenever I am overly presumptuous, I am usually way off the mark.
8. How do you practice dependence on God? Do fortune tellers or the knowledge of speculators have an influence on you? If so, how and why? When is this bad? When is it good? I seek His will. I stay in His Word. He is my foundation. All issues and decisions are given to God; they are pushed through His 'grid of Truth'. All decisions must be in line with His Truth. I will not be swayed by speculators or fortune tellers - I will be lead by the Lord.
9. How do you balance this passage on planning for the future with being prudent and wise in Him? Pray about my possible future plans to the Lord. Put them in His hands. Ask for His will to be done. Be obedient to where the Lord is leading you.
10. How can the fact that God is concerned and involved in your life intimately, and has the best plan for you help you make better decisions? It brings peace knowing that He is my provider and protector.
11. What do you need to do to be better at aligning yourself with His Will? Slow down. Author: Gracie Item comments: http://biblestudynotes.org/community/viewtopic.php?p=969#969
General idea: This final passage in James is about having personal concern for others. Jesus shows the ultimate care as He seeks us out to offer salvation that we do not deserve and continues to seek us when we wander from Him! The picture is of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for His sheep us (John 10:11-1. He will do all it takes to get us back on the path of His plan and will which is the best path for us.
It grieves our Lord deeply when we reject Him or turn from Him and His ways. He is especially grieved when we seek the tantalizations the world has to offer and ignore His wonder and blessings. As our Lord showed us by example, we are to follow up by caring for His people our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is a call to rescue, like a lifeguard rescuing a person who is drowning. People all around us are drowning in a sea of lost hope; we can be the person who hands them the lifeline of hope. We do this by praying and by example with humility, sensitivity, persistence, and by going out of our way for them.
Ministry is not just the proclamation of the Gospel; it is the example of the Gospel lived out in the lives of Believers as they show real compassion for individuals. If we are not doing this, we are not doing ministry. We are to not only care in word, but we are to show that care in deeds; even if we have to confront someone, we are always to do it in love and within the parameters of the Fruit of the Spirit. Thus, when we see someone start to stray, we are to come along side him/her in love and help him/her back to His path. We are to show His love and our genuine concern by being willing and able to help out beyond our comfort zone and cultural considerations. Do not wait; we are called to care and to care now!
Vs. 19-20: James has concluded all he has to say about temptations, gossip, wisdom, and riches. Now, he moves to summarize and encourage those people facing persecution to live lives of distinction, regardless of what they feel and face. Meanwhile, a famine was in its apex and the Jewish aristocracy was preventing Christians from receiving their deserved rations and charity. The temptations of the world were starting to appeal to them in light of the frustrations of trials. Thus, the new Christians were starting to turn on one another. Many people felt, as today, that the church rejected them so they turned away in grief, while the other Christians did nothing to bring them back or to show them they were loved or cared about. We have the same problem today; most people leave a church because they do not get connected and they feel no one cares. We are called to care and literally go out and bring them back, not by force, but by showing the real, authentic love and the hospitality of our Lord Jesus Christ!
" If anyone. At this time, according to the Jews, if a person wandered from the Law and faith, it was called "apostasy" and they were not counted by God (Ezek. 18:21-25). There was a debate in Jewish sects as to whether such acts were forgivable or unforgivable. There is no debate here for us if we are real in Christ. As Christians, we may still have Christ if our faith is real; but, we may also bring upon ourselves judgment and disfavor with God (Heb. 2:3; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). This is a serious matter and must not be ignored! James may have also been calling back the radical elements that had left to fight the Romans.
" Wandering from the truth. This is a person who has professed his/her faith in Christ but at some point renounced or turned from it, or one who is not living a godly lifestyle. Thus, he/she once had Christ as Lord, but now is fallen away from the fellowship of the church, perhaps seeking and engaging in sin. This is not about losing our salvation. Nowhere does the Bible teach this as doctrine. Either you are backslidden as in turned from the faith, or, you never had it (Matt. 13:1-33; John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; 17:2-24; Rom. 8:28-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:8; 9:1; 1Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 3:32; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18; Heb.11: 6). The faith they had was either not genuine (Heb. 6:4-8; 2 Pet. 2:20-21), or the circumstances of life strangled them as their eyes strayed from Jesus as Lord (Gal. 6:1; Col. 1:19-23; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; James 1:9). The urgency of this is that if a Christian has a bad attitude or is in sin, he/she dishonors the church, gives a false impression, and scandalizes the rest of us in the faith (Eccl. 9:18; Heb. 2:1).
" In 1 John 5:16, we find a parallel theme with this passage in James: sin that leads to death. Both James and John are attacking the position of Gnosticism, which denied the reality of Christ's physical body, incarnation, and the separation of our body and spirit, and led to the rationalization of immorality. Thus, the meaning is about God's judgment that unrepentant sin can lead to "spiritual death," or to "physical death" by the consequences of the sin such as disease (1 Cor. 11:30; Rev 21:.
" Truth, refers to the Word of God, as the precepts of the Gospel and Scripture (John 17:17)
" Turns a sinner. The church is a community of interconnecting people who are in Christ; it is not to be selfish or individualistic. We are, as a church, called to encourage and mutually care for the people. If a Christian is in sin, then it is our call to help them be restored. Real ministry is in the care of individuals over all else; teaching is imperative, programs are essential, buildings are important, but if there is no care or love in them, if we are not connecting and touching one another, then all is worthless (1 Cor 13:1-3; James 1:27; 2:1-4, 14-16)!
" Covers a multitude of sins refers to, in that time and culture, not to spread a bad report. It also means securing forgiveness. Thus, the badness does not get back to God; it is forgiven (Prov. 10:12; 11:13; 20:19)!
" Cover refers to God's atonement. Jesus, literally by His shed blood, covers our sin so that God does not see it nor is affected by it, so He can forgive, give us grace, and bring us into the kingdom. In the OT, "cover" meant to reconcile two opposing parties with an offering or gift that was sacrificial in nature. For us, we are reconciled to God through Christ, who made amends to "cover us" and please God's wrath on our behalf. Everyone has sinned and everyone needs atonement (Lev. 17:11; Job 15:14-16; Psalm 5:4-6; 32:1; 85:2; Isa. 53:4-6; 64:6; Jer. 44:4; Hab. 1:13; Matt. 27:37; Luke 22:37; John 2:2; 4:10; Rom.10: 2-3; Gal. 3:13; 4:4; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14-22; 2:14; Heb. 2:17; 9:11-15; Rev. 1:5). Thus, our redemption is through Christ's blood and suffering which was the sacrifice to bind us, in good relationship, with our Creator and Lord. We model this by seeking to reconcile with others!
We are called to come together. Do not let bad situations or bad people get you down, nor cause you to compromise biblical precepts or your character! Never close the Bible or neglect prayer; your spiritual journey and your trust and growth in Him will be your anchor to weather the storms. Do not allow yourself to suffer in your spiritual pilgrimage because of someone else. Remember, the church is filled with hypocrites because you and I are there. We are not perfect; we make mistakes. People, including Christians, will always disappoint you, but God will never disappoint you in reality. You are still God's special child (Col. 3:1-4)! Do not let yourself fall to the world's way, regardless of what the other person does. Do not allow the misguided ways of others get you off of God's path. Even if you are angry with God, He still loves you and has His best for you. Give your hurt and those who have hurt you over to God; He is the one who dispenses justice and revenge, not you (Hebrews 12:6)!
Having been to Europe many times for mission endeavors, not to mention my postgraduate studies in England, I often wondered about all those medieval torture devices I had seen in the museums that I frequently visited and in the literature I read. Why in the world would people, claiming to be Christians, put other human beings into an "iron maiden" or a "rack," or some other heinous torture device? It boggled my mind and I had very condescending thoughts for such individuals (which I still do). However, while researching my article on "hell," I gained a glimpse of why they carried out such torturous endeavors.
In the Middle Ages, the fear of hell was absolutely overwhelming, and to forsake God and the church and venture to hell was the very worst thing that a person could conceive of or endure. So, a righteous person who was unacquainted with the precepts of Scripture (consider that the Bible was not translated or read in that time, so the concepts of the Fruit of the Spirit or this passage would not have been known, and, if so, very skewed), concluded in a medieval way, that all means necessary must be involved to prevent a person from straying from the church so they would not go to hell. This included placing a person on a rack and stretching them until their spine broke in half. As long as a person repented, their eternal salvation was assured and the condition of their body did not make any difference.
I am not condoning such acts; but, when we comprehend the reality and impact of a person who strays from the truth and engages in sin, what are we willing to do about it? We are not to dust off our ancient torture devices, but we are to do our best, in the parameters of the Fruit of the Spirit, to bring that person back to the Kingdom.
Allow your faith to remain in Him regardless of what is going outside of your self or inside with your feelings. He will give you all you need; He will water, cultivate, and harvest, and give you the mercy and tenderness to go on. We must allow our faith to build so it does not bring us down or motivate others negatively. Because, the great hope is still to come; He is coming back. And, when He does, our suffering will be ended and it will not have been in vain. We will see the purpose and marvel at it as it will have made us better and stronger. So, let us keep our focus on Him just as the farmer looks to rain; He is our hope and reason, and He will carry us through; He will lift us up.
The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?
4. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
5. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?
Additional Questions:
1. What is care? How do you show care? Why is having personal concern for others important?
2. How does Jesus show us the ultimate care? How do you feel about His love and care for you personally? How can knowing more about His care for you help you respond to others with His care?
3. How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus will do all it takes to get you back on the path of His plan and will, the best for you? Why would we choose not to take His care?
4. How do you know if a person wanders off from your church? Can you detect the signs when people are disconnected or dissatisfied with your church? How do you help those who are struggling with their church or with sin? How long do you wait? When have you waited too long? Why do most Christians do nothing to bring back a wandering brother?
5. How have you wandered from the faith or seen others do so? What are some of the causes that give us grounds to wander from God's loving and best path?
6. Why do you suppose most people leave a church? Why do you suppose Christians tend to turn on one another with the works of Gal. 5:18-20? Have you, or have you seen other Christians turn on one another in a bad way? How so, and why?
7. How do the temptations of the world appeal to you when the frustrations of trials are getting to you? What can you do to see Christ and not your circumstances?
8. How does a Christian who has a bad attitude or who is in sin dishonor the church, give a false impression, and even scandalize the rest of those in the faith?
9. A church is a community of interconnecting people who are in Christ, whose call it is to encourage and mutually care for its people. How does this knowledge influence you to be on guard not to be selfish or individualistic?
10. People, including Christians, will always disappoint you, but God will never disappoint you in reality. So, how can you allow your faith to remain in Him regardless of what is going on outside of your self or inside with your feelings?
11. What can you do to keep people better connected in your church? What can you do to reach out to those who engage in sin and/or leave the church?
12. What would your church look like if the leaders and the people showed, by demonstration, real, authentic love and the hospitality of our Lord Jesus Christ? What would it take to make this happen? What will you do about it?
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3
This concludes our series in the Epistle of James. I pray that you found it insightful, challenging, and profitable. Next week we will be veering to the Epistle of 1 Peter!
General idea: What are we to do first in all situations? Is it to complain? Argue with one another? Be stressed? NO! We are called to pray, as prayer not only sets the tone for our behaviors and insights, but it also brings Christ into the picture with us more powerfully and effectively. It is not about getting what we want, as we may get a yes, or a no, or maybe a call to wait for the right timing. This passage is a series of calls to prayer. We are all indeed called to prayer; it is not a talent, a special ability, or a spiritual gift. It is not for certain occasions or with certain postures. Rather, it is the communication through which we encounter our loving, living Lord! Prayer is a call, to not bend our knees, but to bend our heart, and for this call, we need to know the veracity and importance of it.
These are not necessarily formulas, but encouragement that will lead us to pursue God! When we seek Him, we are ready, along with others, to engage in the actions of appeal and request to God for people who are in need and sick. We can pray for forgiveness, for our nation, show our gratitude even pray for the weather. Thus, in all things, we are to be both in personal prayer and collective prayer with other believers. Prayer is not just a means to get what we request; it is the means to line us up with God, His precepts, and His presence. Prayer can meet all things and needs; prayer can and must be a significant part of anything we will ever face in life, from the trivial to things of utmost importance! We can have confidence that our prayers are heard and answered. No matter what we need or face, we have Christ! Thus, we must preface, surround, and empower all that we do with prayer. It is never to be an afterthought; rather, it must be our first thought, our principle action, and our primary plan.
Vs. 13-15: Prayer is not just an exercise we do. Rather, it is the active communication we have with God; it is the most important act for us in any matter or endeavor. Prayer is not about our will; rather, it is a means of seeking His (Matt. 6:33). Prayer does not just prepare us for ministry and service; prayer is our ministry and service. Prayer is not just a means of preparing us for the encounters and battles of life; it is the battle! Prayer is more about being the greatest work we can do than about the results we receive from it! Remember, our obedience is what is important, not how others respond to us. We are even called to bless those unreasonable people, and we do that, as we mature, by remaining true to His Lordship.You cannot be responsible for how others respond and treat you when you are acting in godly character (Romans 12:14-21).
" Suffering here means "in distress," and includes physical sickness, being stressed out, or having emotional and/or personal problems. To the person in this situation, hope seems to be missing and relief is absent, but when we come to them, we bring the hope and relief!
" Sing songs means praising our Lord, in unity, with a willing, loving heart. This is an aspect of real worship and music, which is never a show; rather, it is a response of our love giving praise. We, as a congregation, are the performers, and Christ is the audience. Real, authentic worship is to be inspired by who Christ is and what He is doing in us. It is not about form or function or type; it is about our hearts showing our love to Him. Prayer and worship share the same heart and attitude (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:12-17).
" Sick. The call for us here is to engage them with love and care; it is not about the healing, although, whenever possible, we are to seek the best and continual medical attention. It is more about showing our love coming from His love. Also, the call for the sick person is to make sure others know they are sick so others can respond.
" Elders are the people selected to be in charge of the local church, whose call is to train, care for, and administer His love and precepts to the rest of the congregation. They must have the qualities of Christ working in them before they can help others. The connection is that the elders should be the primary ministers to the people of the church (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; 1 Tim. 3:2-7; 5:15; Titus 1:5-16; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
" Anointed with oil has two meanings: "the healing power of God," a call, and also to "seek medical attention." It is not a ceremonial procedure, although it can also infer actually applying oil to the person and praying over them. We are called both to pray and to seek medical attention (Isa. 1:6; Mark 6:13; Luke 10:34).
" Power of faith refers to trusting in God and then being faithful towards our intercessory duty to others. It does not mean a "special power" as some have proclaimed; rather, it is a call to action to show our Christian community and faith displayed in our care toward one another. Yes, God does heal today, but healing is not guaranteed or even normative. How we respond and learn is what matters to God over all else, even an actual healing. If your body is healed and your mind and heart are not centered on him, what good is it; it is merely temporary and of no eternal use.
" Committed sins. James is not saying all sickness is from sin, as some Jewish Rabbis thought; harboring resentment and unforgiveness actually deteriorate the body and mind. Seeking forgiveness is very restorative to the soul and body! Sometimes, though, God can cause us to be sick to get us out of sin, as it is far better to be stooped by sickness than to create a much worse environment for ourselves and others. Sin is the biggest barrier between us and God, and prevents God's work being received by us. Confession breaks these barriers (1 Cor. 11:30; Phil. 2:25-30).
What is prayer? It is receiving the amazing, redemptive work of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, so His power and purpose flow through us and into others. Prayer is spending time and talking with God, expressing our heart to Him, and interceding on behalf of others. It is meant to be exciting, powerful, and fulfilling. Just like a phone conversation, prayer is not a one way communication. God will speak to us, not as a burning bush, but in quiet ways; so, we must also listen. And, of course, always compare to Scripture what you think He said, as He will never contradict Himself. Then, you will be able to distinguish between your desires and His precepts. There is no need we can ever face that prayer cannot meet; there is never a problem we go through that prayer cannot answer!
Vs. 16-18: Ask God, be real, be honest, be yourself, and make sure your motives are right. We are never to seek to manipulate God to get our way, just as we are not to do so with others. In this spirit, we can come to one another and seek accountability and reconciliation. We can confess and be on guard with sin, so it stops and does not fester or escalate. And, as Elijah demonstrated to us, always remember that a righteous person is a praying person; we cannot do anything of meaning or significance for our Lord unless we are a person and a church of prayer!
" Confess. We are called to be accountable to one another, to state what we are going through and struggling with to someone in confidence who will listen and help guide us by His Word. It is not about going to a pastor or priest, but to God directly, and with accountability, to another trusted person, small group, or mentor. We cannot do the Christian life by ourselves; it is not a spectator or an individual sport! Christianity is not for lone rangers, it is for community!
" Righteous man means a person who is rooted in his or her faith to Christ and has a growing prayer life that also shows up in his or her behavior.
" Elijah, in 1 Kings 18, was a miracle worker. James uses him as an inspiration and incentive to the power and prominence we have available to us. Elijah represents the "everyman," who, by his prayer life, was powerfully used by God (1 Kings 17:1; 18: 1, 41-46; 1 Sam. 12:17-1!
Many misguided Christians will say to another Christian who is ill or going through troubles, that he or she does not have enough faith or that he or she has unconfessed sin in his or her life and that is why the sickness has come; then they use this passage to back up their uncaring and insensitive claims. But, this is not what James is saying! It is not about the healing; it is about showing the love and care of our Lord. Making statements such as these does otherwise, and misses the call of the Scriptures! If you are earnestly praying, and perhaps are frustrated that you have not received an answer or the answer you desire, remember: while you are waiting, God is working (Matt. 21:22; John 14:14)!
Prayer is our primary means of communication with our Lord. It is also the bond that builds community, churches, and marriages, as it synergizes and brings out God's love! It is a marvel and a wonder that we, as created human beings, can obtain direct communication with God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Prayer shows us His love and concern for us just in allowing us to make our presence and requests known, and His even further, unfathomable love in that He earnestly hears us and gives us an answer and intervention! Prayer is precious; it is not to be a half-hearted endeavor, or just an empty routine, an unctuous ceremony, or a meaningless ritual. Prayer is not about the recitation of words, nor is it about posture, place, or expression usage; it is an outpouring of the posture of our heart to His. Prayer is an expression of our connection of love for what Christ has done for us in giving each of us this precious relationship with God. It shows our love and dependence on Him. It is a primary avenue for us to learn and grow in Him, and to be better equipped in life to touch others in His Name. Therefore, it is a relationship of dependency, as any real growth must involve the surrender of our will to His Will. Prayer pulls us up by the roots and plants us further in His presence and will! Beware! We are deceiving ourselves if we think we can live our Christian life without prayer, as one could be married or have a child and never have communication with that spouse or child. It could be done, but the relationship would be absent and soon would be bankrupt; we cannot do life on our own. Even if we could (and many Christians seem to), God just might let you; this would really be the time for fear and dropping to our knees!
Prayer is not just about what our own needs are. It is about putting our lives and experiences in Him, sharing our days and lives, both in times of urgency and times of happiness, and bringing others to our thoughts and into our prayers. Continual and effective prayer will build our relationship with God. We will realize that He is in charge of all that happens in our lives, and that we are in His Hands. How we interact with Christ as Lord and respond to others is rooted in how we communicate. Our spiritual growth and how we can connect to God with an effectual relationship is determined by how effective our prayer life is. It can be put this way: all we do in life is based on our ability to communicate and our principle communication is to our loving Lord!
The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?
4. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
5. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?
Additional Questions:
1. What do you do when you are facing hardships? How is prayer a part of these experiences?
2. What is prayer to you? How much of your prayers involve listening to God? How can you do this in a better way?
3. What are we to do first in all situations? What causes you to go first to the art of complaining or arguing, or be stressed?
4. How does prayer set a tone for us in our behaviors and insights? How can prayer help your church or relationships?
5. Why do some Christians feel that prayer is all about getting what we want? How do you feel about that? What can be done to show people the primary purpose of prayer?
6. How does prayer become the means to line us up with God? What can you do to make sure your motives are right with prayer?
7. Do you believe that prayer can meet all the things and needs that you will ever face? Do you have the confidence that your prayers are heard and are answered? How can you have more confidence in prayer?
8. How does trusting in God and being faithful help you in being effective towards your intercessory duty to others?
9. How do you feel about people claiming they can heal? Have you seen or experienced it? I definitely believe that God heals today and have seen amazing things! However, did you know that in Scripture, healing is not guaranteed or even normative; it is about how we respond and learn that matters to God over all else even an actual healing? How can this fact strengthen your resolve and faith in Christ?
10. How does harboring resentment and unforgiveness deteriorate your body and mind? Can you give an example?
11. How does knowing that God can cause us to be sick to get us out of sin keep you motivated in the right direction?
12. What can you do to make your prayer life more time invested, more exciting, more powerful, and more fulfilling?
General idea: This passage is about standing firm, which we can do all the way from sowing the right seed to receiving the greatest harvest of the highest quality. It takes patience to work the land; one must clear the field, plow the dirt, plant the seed, thin the sprouts, clear the weeds, fertilize, irrigate, constantly take care of the plants, trim, pollinate, engage in the on-going endeavors of cultivating the soil, including measuring and evaluating, and then, glean the final harvest. Then, it is time for the next season. This all takes effort and time; it does not just happen overnight at a whim.
It is the same with our spiritual formation. We receive Christ into our lives, but that is not the end of the matter. Rather, it is only the beginning! Jesus plants the seed, the Spirit waters it, and then we embark on our great adventure, the cultivation of our own lives by the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, learning, sharing, devotions, fasting, fellowship, and the like. Then, we are honed and trimmed so we can grow. This is a slow and glorious process; yes, this is what the Christian life is all about on this earth, as it is about the journey and not the destination. Our destination is already booked and secured; now, we are to concentrate on what to do while we are on our way to His Way! Even when others come against us to exploit and betray us, our purpose is to grow in our security in Christ. It must be His Way and not our circumstances. Then, our faith will flourish, even in times of adversity and sickness.
Vs. 7-8: The call is for patience. God is still in control, even when we do not see it. He will return. And, even if it does not happen in our lifetime, He is still on the throne and has our very being in His hands. When our eyes are on Christ, then our eyes are not overwhelmed by what we are going through in life. As the farmer looks to the rain, we are to look to the Ultimate Farmer, our LORD. He is our hope because He is our courage!
" Patient means "waiting." The context infers waiting for the correction of injustice. We do not automatically receive God's promise, except for our salvation; we have to wait for His timing, which is the best timing (Luke 18:1-! Those who transgress who sin will be judged! We can wait because we have hope in the greater purpose which is unfolding for us.
" Coming of our Lord, also called in Scripture the "last days," means the "Messianic era." It does not necessarily mean that time is running out. It is not a "time" reference but a period in time. Because of the phrasing in the English, a lot of spurious doctrine has been read into this phrase that is just not there in Greek syntax or meaning. Last days was inaugurated by the incarnation of our Lord (Matt. 1; Acts 2:17; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:1. This refers to the new and unique "covenant" (some call this dispensation) in contrast to the period of The Law. The point is that God's unfolding revelation for us is His grace, giving us His fullness and the finality that is to come. Whatever eschatological view you have, all biblical views look to Christ's second coming as the next great event in our redemptive history. Nowhere in the Bible are we given a timeline of when it will take place just that it will. We are called to always be watching for it, but not be so obsessed by it that it takes us away from the main call of building His Kingdom and discipleship! Most of the Disciples, including James, expected the impending return of our Lord in their lifetime.
" Farmer, and his work of cultivation and harvest, are images of growth and the Day of Judgment (Matt. 12:36-37; 24:36; 25:31-46; Mark 13:32; Acts 17:31; 1 John 2:28; 4:17). This parallels the parables of Jesus in Matthew 13. A farmer was totally dependant (back then) on the rain, soil, and such for his crop. In like manner, we are totally dependant on God for our salvation and assistance in our spiritual growth. However, both we and the farmer still toil in the efforts to make it come about.
" Precious/valuable means very important and valuable, as it is a fruit of the earth to give us sustained life.
" Fruit of the earth/yield its valuable crop is an image of harvest, referencing judgment; it is good for the elect, but bad for those who reject Christ (Matt. 13).
" Latter/Autumn...Spring rains. In Israel, these rains come in October and November which amounts to three-fourths of the total yearly rainfall after the grain is planted. If these rains come early, the crop cannot be planted in time and the seeds will wash away. The spring rain comes in March and April just prior to harvest. Without it, the seeds never germinate. If it comes at the wrong time, such as the harvest time in June, the crop is ruined (Deut. 11:14; Jer. 5:24; Hos. 6:3; Joel 2:24).
An illustration from agriculture is so appropriate for us and our faith development because the example parallels the cultivation of a harvest as the culture of our faith; the efforts, requirements, and obedience, as well as trust in the Farmer our Lord is paramount. Without any effort, we will yield no results no harvest. Yet, when we are being cared for and cultivated in Him, we will yield bounties of abundant, contagious faith that spurs on the cultivation in Christ of others!
Vs. 9: Do not grumble, as in do not be complaining. Don't criticize, find fault, be irritable or argumentative, or whine to fellow believers and definitely not to unbelievers. All that does is bring stress and misery. Yet, when we look to Him, our trust becomes complete. Our hope is fulfilled, and, ultimately, there is nothing about which to complain. Yet, James still makes the case that we can and are called on to speak against what is wrong, such as oppression. It is our hostile orations that are in question (James 5:1-6)!
" Grumble refers back to James 4:11-12. This means we are called to patience toward other Christians as well as to non-Christians.
" The Judge means "imminence" and "last days," and is a reference to Christ's second coming and the judgment (Rom. 13:12; Heb. 10:25; 1 Pet. 4:7; Rev. 22:20). This can also convey the idea that our life is short and our time to judgment even shorter, so we need to "wise up" in Him.
" Standing at the door. Christ's return is imminent, not necessarily in timing but in His actual presence amongst us. Whatever we face, it is only for a season and then it will be over! Our hope is our relationship in Him and in His return to come, not in what is going on around us.
We are called to speak out against injustice. You may wish to vent your discontent, but make sure you do not blow it out of proportion or just wallow in it for self-pity's sake. Complaining serves only to stir the discords of strife, increase stress, irritate others, and place the focus where it is not to be. There are times to get things off your chest, but it must be to actually get it off, not to keep poking at it so the stress sticks around and consumes you, drawing you away from Christ as Lord. When overwhelmed, seek a pastor or counselor to help you through it, but don't turn it into a problem that has no resolution. He is our resolution, our hope, our promise fulfilled. He is at the door; let Him in (Rev. 3:8, 20)
Vs. 10-11: James points us to the prophets of the OT as examples of faith in the midst of extreme adversity. Job was a great comfort to those who were in captivity. These examples help us to see the hope we have in Him, and give us perseverance and patience.
" The prophets refers to Isaiah and Jeremiah as the main prophets, and the others as "minor." Most faced serious persecution from their own people who refused to heed God's call and warnings, focusing on their desires and transgressions instead. The point is that we can have endurance! When we preach or model Christ, we, too, may face great persecution; if so, we are in good company!
" Perseverance of Job means endurance, as Job went through great sufferings, and he persevered. James uses this to communicate encouragement for our staying power, as in "you can do it too!" When God seems far away and no one seems to care about injustice or your concerns, God is still there caring! He will vindicate you and care for you!
We can honor people who have been triumphant in suffering because it is encouraging and equipping to us. If they can do it, then so can we so can you! Whatever may be seeking to derail your faith or seeking to take you off God's path, be it spiritual warfare, toxic family members, disgruntled work situations, or a debilitating illness, we can carry on because He appropriates us for a purpose; He carries us through!
Vs. 12: Do not swear! That is, as James said before, to keep our tongue under control. This time, the focus is on swearing, as in coarse language and paying homage to what is irreverent or irrelevant. When we swear to an oath that is not in Him, it is displeasing to Him. It is distracting from our call, and blatant sin! How we use our tongue will show how we have cultivated our heart! James speaks more on how to do this in verse 13, to pray!
" Above all is an emphatic expression meaning "this is priority;" God calls us to godliness, especially with our behaviors and words!
" Swear...oaths. In the Greek, swear means to grasp something hard for support. Here, it refers to a verbal agreement witnessed by divine intervention or an object that represents God. An example would be swearing by the temple that manipulates God as a witness to our position, promises, and dealings (Gen. 24: 1-9; Ezra 10:5; Neh. 5:12; Acts 23:12; Heb. 6:13-17). They would go through these long, elaborate oaths, then not live up to them. The OT Law forbids irreverent oaths, especially the misuse of God's name. It beaks the third commandment (Ex. 20:7; Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Duet. 5:11; 6:3; 22:21-33)!
" Yes be yes. As Christians, with Christ living in us, we need not make any oaths as our word should indicate our faith. Our word is our bond; it must be trusted. So, do not be a deceiver or a manipulator! James and Jesus are not prohibiting all oaths; rather, it is for us to make very sure that whatever we do, we go by our word, rooted in His foremost precepts, so our behaviors are foremost and honest, especially since God is our witness. Let your yes be yes, not saying "let God strike with lightning if I do not"... (Matt. 5: 33-37).
Being a farmer in James' day was a harsh, life-and-death occupation, where one was dependant on and at the mercy of the rain and ground. There were no modern irrigation methods, fertilizers, or pesticides, just hard work and waiting; it is a perfect image of what it means to grow in Christ at times, as sometimes, all we can do is wait. We desire retribution and vengeance; He desires for us to wait expectantly, seeking Him with confidence. But, we do have irrigation, fertilizer, water, and pesticides in Him which are His Word, prayer, fellowship, and His Spirit! If we do not learn and practice patience, we will quickly become impatient, bitter, and bow to self-pity. When we wait, we are not in a hopeless, meaningless holding-pattern, for we are learning and growing in Him! While we wait, God is working, He is in control! He is compassionate and will intervene, heal, restore, and bless in the fullness of His timing (Gen. 50:20; Psalm 37:7; 130:5; Isa. 49:23; Jer. 29:11; Lam. 3:26; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 2:3; Matt. 5:10-12; Rom. 8:28-39; 13:1; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 1:6; James 1:2-1.
Do you sow the right seeds the seeds of faith and devotion to our Lord, with absolute trust and obedience in Him? If not, why not? Because, if our purpose in life is not lined up to His, we will only have broken circumstances and directionless pursuits that lead to emptiness and despair! When we do sow the right seed, we are prepared to weather the storms of life, because our roots are deep in our Lord Jesus Christ; our identity is in Him, and our hope looks to Him. The storm-tossed seas will massage us and not break us; our anchor in Him will keep us steady. The mooring ropes to tie us to His anchor are in our hands. He gives us the boat, the rope, and the anchor; we still have to tie them to one another, which we do as we grow in Him.
The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?
4. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
5. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?
Additional Questions:
1. What are some of the things that cause you to lose patience or be overwhelmed? What has really tested your patience to the breaking point?
2. What does it mean to you to be able to stand firm in your faith with distinction, regardless of what you feel or face? How would your life improve with more development in this area?
3. What kind of encouragement would you need in order to have "staying power" if you were facing persecution?
4. How is it that when we do sow the right seed, we are prepared to weather the storms of life, because our roots are deep in our Lord Jesus Christ and our identity is in Him? What would you look like if this attitude permeated your life?
5. How can you have confidence that God is still in control, even when you do not see it?
6. Do not grumble as in, do not be complaining. The call is clear; so, why do we still do it? What can we do about it?
7. How can being totally dependent on God assist you in your spiritual growth? What can you do to help your trust and obedience in Christ grow?
8. When God seems far away and no one seems to care about injustice or of your concerns, how are you helped through it, knowing that God is still there caring, and will vindicate and care for you?
9. Why, as Christians, do we not need to make any oaths? How is your word an indicator of your faith? What happens when a Christian's word is not trusted?
10. He desires us to wait expectantly, seeking Him with confidence. How does it give you perseverance in your life knowing that some day, you will see His purpose and marvel at how it made you better?
11. What can you do to make sure your circumstances whether they include toxic family members, disgruntled work situations, spiritual warfare, or a debilitating illness do not derail your faith or take you off God's path?
12. What happens when your purpose in life is not lined up to His? What can you do about it and keep your "cool?" Remember, you can do it!
General idea: James again tells the rich in his congregation, as well as the rich Jewish oppressors who might be listening, to listen up! This denotes to pay heed to my words (1:9-11, 19, 26; 2:1-13; 3:1-12; 4:1-11) in the style of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the OT prophets (Deut. 32:35; Prov. 20:22). The point is, this is imperative and if you do not listen, trouble will not only knock, it will barge in upon you! If we live just to acquire material possessions, we will end up with nothing of real, intrinsic consequence. Our lives will be empty, lonely, and bitter because that which we are chasing gives us nothing in return. When we chase wealth, we end up robbing ourselves of the greater riches that God has to give us. James tells his people not to be fooled by listening to the nonsense that wealth is "the" sign of God's blessings.
James is lecturing (as in scolding) people of wealth who had received their wealth from "serfs" or sharecroppers. (In the Middle Ages this was called feudalism.) In this period of time, over 90% of people in the Roman provinces lived on rural, family farms or were serfs, while less than 10% lived in urban cities. These people ran the farm and fields for the owner and did all the work; and, after all of their work, they were cheated by not getting paid. The owners rationalized that this was OK because other owners did it; thus, they were caving in to the worldly pressure of financial success over all else. James is also condemning the oppressing of the poor for which a strong reckoning by God awaited. Remember, both the poor and the oppressors were a part of James' congregation.
Vs. 1-3: What we chase is temporary and will rot, so why would we place our trust in it? Even those things we think are important usually are not! People who place their trust in wealth, accomplishments, education, self, or... are headed for trouble as it takes them away from God just as chasing the devil does; both lead to the same end separation from God both while on the earth and if Christ is never fully received also for eternity. Even if the person does become saved in Christ, he or she will live a life of waste and no return for that which is important. It will be the evidence to convict us of our sins and leave us earthly and the danger of being eternally dejected, void of hope or meaning. Not the loss of our salvation; rather the notification we never received it (Matt. 13)!
" Come now is an exhortation and a "wail." To weep was a graphic way to present your case; here, it shows the veracity of the situation (Joel 1:8; Micah 1:.
" Rich, in this passage, refers to a social class of aristocracy. Wealth, in and of itself, is not condemned here or any other place in the Bible. Wealth can be a blessing from God if we use it as a tool and not as a devotion (Prov. 10:22). The condemnation James gives it implies the abuse of money to oppress the poor. This is a manner of the heart, as our checkbook will show where our loyalty, commitment, and interest abound!
" Garments. Clothes were the most expensive possession then, sometimes greater than even a home. Clothes were also the primary symbols of being wealthy (Acts 20:33). Serfs often had only one homemade garment that was more like burlap, while the rich had fine cotton and silk.
" Corrupted...rust are general terms that refer to anything that can, and will corrode and decay by rust, mildew, bugs, weather, wood rot, or for anything destroyed by fire. All matter, no matter how valuable, is in a state of decay. In the end it is worthless and meaningless (Matt. 6:19-20). The devotion to wealth comes from selfish motivations, and this selfishness will be used to judge us (Acts 2:17; 1Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; 1John 2:1.
" The Christians and Jewish aristocracy who were oppressing the poor were all heinously killed by the Romans after the revolt of 66 A.D. The judgment came for them personally and totally! To seek wealth over God and His call is to rob one's self of His precious opportunities and the substance of Himself and of a great treasure in exchange for a miniscule lust (1 Tim. 6:6-10; 17-19).
Do you worry? Consider that we have a God who loves and provides. He fulfills us with Himself beyond our expectancy. He will meet our deepest needs. We can trust in Him! If you are a worrier, the call is to worship in place of that worry (Matt. 6:19-34)!
Vs. 4: The poor will not be ignored by God; their cries reach Him. Our responsibility to care for them must be heeded! There is never an excuse to cheat or take advantage of another person. For a Christian, it is diametrically in opposition to whom Christ is and what He has done for us! The cry and the fact of the evidence are testimony and evidence against such an evil person (Gen. 4:10).
" Wages refers to being paid. To not pay someone was considered evil and violated the law of God. People needed their daily wages to purchase food for that day for their families. Thus, with no money, they would go hungry after a hard days work, and have to live with a disappointed family (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14-15; Prov. 11:24; Jer, 22:13; Mal. 3:5)!
" Fraud. The earnings of the poor were a meager fraction of that of the owners. And, even when the workers were paid, it was not sufficient pay to provide care for themselves and family. Sometimes, they were not even able to "glean" the land they just worked (Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut. 24:19).
" Lord of the Sabaoth/The Lord Almighty, a name of God, refers to "JEHOVAH-SABAOTH," and means "The Lord of Hosts," the commander of the angelic host and the armies of God (Gen. 17:1; Isa. 1:24, Psalm 46:7, 11; 1 Sam. 1:3; 2 Kings 3:9-12, Jer. 11:20, Rom. 9:29; Rev. 19: 11-16). The Jewish reasoning here is that it is a bad idea to offend a public official, much less the God of the universe! The point here is that our misdeeds greatly offend our God who is all powerful and all caring! This is the passage that so incensed and infuriated the rich high priest that he made James a martyr!
The theme in this verse is covetousness (Rom. 1:29). To make one prosperous by the manipulation of another may seem to be a good business model and make sense in the ways of the world, but it is evil in God's eyes. Covetousness, in the Greek, signifies taking advantage of a situation as the motive, just for the sake of evil. It can be from going too far in bargaining at a market to having more than what is just in any dealings with others. This is common from rich to poor taking advantage, not seeking to get a good deal. Taken too far, it hurts and takes advantage of the weaker, less fortunate person.
Vs. 5-6: Luxury and seeking satisfaction is an illusion that brings only temporary relief and no real substance. It may be fun for now, but the fun now and pay later plan is not worth it! Remember, the Christian life has liberty and grace, but we are never to forget our responsibility and call. If you store up treasure on earth, your heart will be besieged by disappointments, and the storms of life will overwhelm you. The real treasure is living in Christ, sharing Him with others, and with what awaits you in eternity (Matt. 7:24-27; 19: 16-26; Luke 12:33-34; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 1 Tim. 6:9-10; Heb. 10:32-39)!
" Pleasure and luxury refer to self-indulgence (Luke 16:19-31), from eating a pound of chocolate at once to partying your way to oblivion. Too much excess will leave you empty and alone. It will cause you, at best, to gain a lot of weight or to lose your friends, and, at worst, cause you to lose your life and miss out on your heavenly reward! Self-indulgence seeks what is fleeting; Christians are made for eternity (Gen. 3:1-7; Num. 20:7-12; 2I Sam. 13:1-19; 1 Kings 21:1-7).
" Fattened your hearts. The image here is animals being slaughtered; the rich are the animals who are not aware or do not care. Are we doing this to ourselves? Our desires that are contrary to God's call and precepts will lead us to destruction. It is not necessarily because God is there waiting with an ax; rather, He is there with His loving arms open. When we ignore Him, we destroy ourselves; He has warned us that it will happen. A god who does not warn is a god who does not love!
" Day of slaughter refers to a feast of eating meat that occurred after the sheep shearing season or harvest (1 Sam. 25:4, 36). This was a rare treat that the rich did daily. They used it to be condescending; they showed no benevolence to those who had none. The poor only ate meat at public feast days and festivals.
" Leading a lavish lifestyle while others who work for you starve, or who are the ones you are called to care for (Jesus says all Christians are to care for the poor: Matt. 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 7:22; 12:33; 14:13,21; 18:22; 19:8; 21:2; 21:3; Acts 9:36; 10:4; 10:31; 24:17; Rom. 15:26; Gal. 2:10; James 2:23-6). The theme here is that the rich, in their condescension, are just fattening themselves up for the slaughter of Judgment. Thus, they are fattening themselves up for their own slaughter, brought about by their own deeds and words (Jer. 12:3; Amos 4:1-3; 6:4-7)!
" Condemned...murdered, in this context, it is not actual murder, but the setting up of events that lead to it. The abuse of power will cause the loss of life. The rich were taking food away from the people, not providing wages so they starved while they worked, and taking their coats away in extortion so they would freeze to death, too! The image is the oppression of the poor, as the wicked were scheming against the righteous. In this context, James warns them to repent. This condemnation of judgment does not pertain to a Christian because we are saved by grace. It is condemnation to a non-Christian; a real Christian would never do this. The audience for this passage is the aristocratic Jews and pretenders who say they are Christians, but their lack of fruit clearly shows otherwise (Isa. 13-23; Jer. 46-51; Ezek. 25-32; Amos 1:3-2:16; Zeph. 2:4-15).
James is not saying wealth is wrong; rather, he denounces wealth when it gets in the way of our relationships and call from God and when we use it to bring harm to others. This comes down to our attitude concerning security, and priorities about money over spiritual and relational matters! Our focus needs to be on God and our trust in Him, not money, things, or power! It is not your bank account; it is your soul account! Our true riches are in Christ alone! Wealth is not sinful, or even harmful, as long as it is seen as a tool. It does become a problem and a distraction when it becomes our focus and God is pushed out of the picture. We are also called to use and be responsible and accountable stewards with wealth; so, use it wisely, with honesty, and do not horde it, misuse it, exploit it, steal it, or waste it. Give it away with generosity for godly influence to further His Kingdom (Prov. 11:24-25; 15:27; 16:8; 17:23; 20:17; 21:14; 22:2; 23:1-3; 30:7-9; Eccl. 5:10-20; Matt. 6:19-21; 25: 14-30; Luke 12:13-21; Acts 4:36-37; Eph. 5:10; 1 Tim. 6:10).
Remember, when we draw near to the world, God is pushed away! The warning is two-fold; one, we are not to oppress the poor and needy. There is never a reason or call to do that; rather, we are to help and provide, educate and motivate. Second, by seeking wealth, we are the oppressors to ourselves; we are seeking what only God is to fulfill (Matt. 6: 33).
The question is, do we "listen up" to what God is saying to us? Do we ask ourselves (and, of course, God Himself), what does God want from me? Because if we do not, our focus in life becomes skewed! To focus upon what the world defines as success is to miss out on things that are much greater, both for the here-and-now and for eternity to come. For the person whose pursuit is in wealth, i
. He will do all it takes to get us back on the path of His plan and will which is the best path for us. 
