Tiago 5

Tiago 5

Piper says, “The aim of all our endurance is that Christ be seen and savored in the world as our glorious God.” The theme of patiently enduring trials runs throughout the Bible. We saw it in our recent study of Hebrews. The author states (Heb 10:36), “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” He repeatedly exhorts us to hold fast our confession of faith (Heb 3:6, Heb 3:14; Heb 10:23). He wants us to be “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12). Of Abraham, he stated (Heb 6:15), “And so, having patiently waited, he inherited the promise.” Heb 11 is filled with examples of those who by faith endured hardship and suffering. This is James’ theme here. His readers were suffering, while the ungodly rich were prospering at their expense. As a good teacher, James repeats his earlier theme (Ja 1:12), “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” In our text, he says, When you encounter trials, look to the prophets and to Job as examples of patient endurance. (James 5:10-11 Patient Endurance) Patiently Waiting Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. —James 5:7 Today's Scripture: James 5:7-11 If we truly believe that Jesus is coming back, we have good reason to be patient. Why should we not endure indignity and injustice if we know that ultimate and absolute justice is just around the corner? Is there any better hope than to know that Jesus is coming again to set everything right? Like the farmer, we look ahead with hope. The farmer plants the seed and waits patiently for the harvest. Likewise, we await the time when God will judge evil men and women and reward Christ’s followers. He has given us His word that He’s coming back. It’s the surest thing in the world. When German pastor and theologian Helmut Thielicke was asked what he will say to Jesus at His return, he replied, “I knew You meant it.” The “good life” here is a bonus, not something we deserve. Unrelieved suffering and oppression may well be our lot here on earth. But remember, we suffer for Jesus’ sake (Philippians 1:29). Although circumstances may seem bleak at present, there’s a better day coming. Beyond the world of sight there is a Judge keeping watch over His own, waiting to answer every plea and avenge every wrong. God hates injustice and will vindicate us in due time. Reflect & Pray Keep me praying, keep me trusting Every step along life's way! Keep me waiting, keep me watching, For He may return today! —Thiesen The hope of Christ's coming can keep us going. The Race “Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten,” they shout and plead there’s just too much against you now, this time you can’t succeed. And as I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene, for just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being. A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell. They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. Their fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son, and each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one. The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire, to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire. One boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd, was running near the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.” But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip, the little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped. Trying hard to catch himself, his hands, flew out to brace, and mid the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. So, down he fell and with him hope, he couldn’t win it now. Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow. But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!” He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all, and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, his mind went faster than his legs, he slipped and fell again. He wished that he had quit before with one disgrace. “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.” But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face, that steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!” So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last, if I’m going to gain those yards, he thought, I’ve got to run real fast. Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten, but trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again. Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye, there’s no sense running anymore—three strikes I’m out—why try' The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away, so far behind, so error prone, closer all the way. “I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought, “I’ll live with my disgrace.” But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face. “Get up,” an echo sounded low. “Get up and take your place. You were not meant for failure here, get up and win that race.” With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said, “you haven’t lost at all, for winning is not more than this; to rise each time you fall.” So, up he rose to run once more, and with a new commit, he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit. So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been, still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win. Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end. They cheered the winning runner as he crossed, first place; head high and proud and happy—no falling, no disgrace. but, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place, the crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race. And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd. And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.” To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.” And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face, the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. “Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten,” they still shout in my face, but another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race.” Family Times The Purposes of God The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried. The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. “What’s the trouble, Mr. Brooks?” he asked. “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!” Haven’t we felt the same way many times' Some of the greatest missionaries of history devotedly spread the seed of God’s Word and yet had to wait long periods before seeing the fruit of their efforts. William Carey, for example, labored 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ in Burma, and Adoniram Judson toiled 7 years before his faithful preaching was rewarded. In western Africa, it was 14 years before one convert was received into the Christian church. In New Zealand, it took 9 years; and in Tahiti, it was 16 years before the first harvest of souls began. Thomas a Kempis described that kind of patience in these words: “He deserves not the name of patient who is only willing to suffer as much as he thinks proper, and for whom he pleases. The truly patient man asks (nothing) from whom he suffers, (whether) his superior, his equal, or his inferior…But from whomever, or how much, or how often wrong is done to him, he accepts it all as from the hand of God, and counts it gain!” The Waiting Soul Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord, And cheer me from the north; Blow on the treasures of thy word, And call the spices forth! I wish, Thou knowest, to be resign’d, And wait with patient hope; But hope delay’d fatigues the mind, And drinks the spirits up. Help me to reach the distant goal Confirm my feeble knee; Pity the sickness of a soul That faints for love of Thee! Cold as I feel this heart of mine, Yet, since I feel it so, It yields some hope of life divine Within, however low. I seem forsaken and alone, I hear the lion roar; And every door is shut but one, And that is Mercy’s door. There, till the dear Deliverer come, I’ll wait with humble prayer; And when He calls His exile home, The Lord shall find him there. Olney Hymns, Always in a Hurry To those Christians who are always in a hurry, here’s some good advice from the 19th-century preacher A. B. Simpson: “Beloved, have you ever thought that someday you will not have anything to try you, or anyone to vex you again? There will be no opportunity in heaven to learn or to show the spirit of patience, forbearance, and longsuffering. If you are to practice these things, it must be now.” Yes, each day affords countless opportunities to learn patience. Let’s not waste them. Commenting on our need for this virtue, M. H. Lount has said, “God’s best gifts come slowly. We could not use them if they did not. Many a man, called of God to…a work in which he is pouring out his life, is convinced that the Lord means to bring his efforts to a successful conclusion. Nevertheless, even such a confident worker grows discouraged at times and worries because results do not come as rapidly as he would desire. But growth and strength in waiting are results often greater than the end so impatiently longed for. Paul had time to realize this as he lay in prison. Moses must have asked, ‘Why?’ many times during the delays in Midian and in the wilderness. Jesus Himself experienced the discipline of delay in His silent years before His great public ministry began.” God wants us to see results as we work for Him, but His first concern is our growth. That’s why He often withholds success until we have learned patience. The Lord teaches us this needed lesson through the blessed discipline of delay. Power To Persevere You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. —James 5:11 Professional golfer Paula Creamer had worked all year long to earn a berth in the 2008 ADT Championship, the year’s final tournament on the LPGA tour. When the event began, however, Creamer was suffering from peritonitis, a painful inflammation of the abdominal wall. Throughout the four days of the tournament, she was in constant pain and unable to eat. She even spent a night in the hospital because of the condition. Still, she persevered to the end and, amazingly, she finished third. Her determination earned her many new fans. The challenges and crises of life can tax us to the very end of our strength, and in such times it is easy to want to give up. But James offers followers of Christ another perspective. He says that while life is a battle, it is also a blessing: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). Reflect & Pray I searched with all my heart to know If God was really there; He graciously revealed Himself, His mercy, love, and care. —Cetas God provides the power we need to persevere. James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. NET James 5:12 And above all, my brothers and sisters, 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 into judgment. GNT James 5:12 Πρὸ πάντων δέ, ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ὀμνύετε μήτε τὸν οὐρανὸν μήτε τὴν γῆν μήτε ἄλλον τινὰ ὅρκον· ἤτω δὲ ὑμῶν τὸ Ναὶ ναὶ καὶ τὸ Οὒ οὔ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ κρίσιν πέσητε. NLT James 5:12 But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. KJV James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. ESV James 5:12 But above all, my brothers, 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. ASV James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment. CSB James 5:12 Now above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. Your "yes" must be "yes," and your "no" must be "no," so that you won't fall under judgment. NIV James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. NKJ James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment. NRS James 5:12 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. YLT James 5:12 And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall. NAB James 5:12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No," that you may not incur condemnation. NJB James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear by heaven or by the earth or use any oaths at all. If you mean 'yes', you must say 'yes'; if you mean 'no', say 'no'. Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement. GWN James 5:12 Above all things, my brothers and sisters, do not take an oath on anything in heaven or on earth. Do not take any oath. If you mean yes, say yes. If you mean no, say no. Do this so that you won't be condemned. BBE James 5:12 But most of all, my brothers, do not take oaths, not by the heaven, or by the earth, or by any other thing: but let your Yes be Yes, and your No be No: so that you may not be judged. But above all, my brethren: 1Pe 4:8 3Jn 1:2 do not swear, either by heaven or by earth: Mt 5:33-37 23:16-22 but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no: 2Co 1:17-20 so that you may not fall under judgment.: Jas 3:1,2 1Co 11:34 James 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries STOP SWEARING Hiebert writes that "The insertion of this injunction against swearing at this point in the epistle has been much discussed. Indeed, Sadler holds that it "has never been satisfactorily explained." (James Commentary) But (de) is normally a Term of contrast, but in this context is not clearly a contrast. This conjunction can also identify a continuation of thought and that is probably the sense in this context so that it would be more accurately translated "and" or "now." And notice that James is stating this command "so that you may not fall under judgment." This would connect with James 5:9 which speaks about the coming judgment. Above all - In this context this phrase conveys the thought of importance or preeminience. The subject of swearing occupies only one verse but James wants to make sure his readers do not discount its importance! By using the phrase above all James is calling his readers to pay careful attention to the following stern command. Thompson on above all - This is obviously one of the worst sins one can commit with his or her mouth. (Sermon) As Hiebert explains "Having censured three different manifestations of the spirit of worldliness (James 4:1-5:11), this verse concludes that discussion. This evil of swearing reflects the spirit of worldliness in one of its most reprehensible forms. James has in view the self-serving attempt to hide the truth by appearing to appeal to God to establish the truth. Such duplicity is totally inconsistent with Christian honesty." (James Commentary) Note that James is not speaking of swearing (as some like A T Robertson who suggest prohibition of profanity) like we use the term in English where swearing means "to utter obscenities or profanities." John