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A Study in the Book of James Wednesday, 26 January 2011

A Study in the Book of James Wednesday, 26 January 2011. James 5:1-6. This week ’ s passages concerns “ Warning to Rich Oppressors ” and “ Patience in Suffering. ” In the fifth chapter, James strongly exhorts rich people to be kind to their workers.

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A Study in the Book of James Wednesday, 26 January 2011

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  1. A Study in the Book of James Wednesday, 26 January 2011

  2. James 5:1-6 • This week’s passages concerns “Warning to Rich Oppressors” and “Patience in Suffering.” In the fifth chapter, James strongly exhorts rich people to be kind to their workers. • What responsibility do rich people have to poor people? • How should rich Christians utilize their wealth to honor and glorify Christ?

  3. James 5:1-6 • In the second part of this passage, James encourages his fellow believers to be patient in suffering as they await the Lord’s return. • James illustrates waiting with the image of a farmer waiting for harvest. He alludes to Job to teach us about patience in the midst of suffering. We will define practical skills for enduring difficult challenges.

  4. James 5:1-6 • What is the “misery” that awaits rich people? Ironically, James tells rich people to “weep and wail.” • James condemns the hoarding of wealth. He warns the rich that their wealth will corrode and testify against them. What is the purpose of wealth? • Allude to the ideas of Carnegie, Joyce Meyer, Malcolm Forbes, and Jesus. • Who is wealthy in the twenty-first century context? What is wealth in the “First World” and “Third World?” The average family of four in the world live on $1500 per year.

  5. James 5:1-6 • Unpaid wages cry out against the rich because of their economic oppression of the poor. Allude to the Enron scandal, the savings and loan fiasco, the junk bond scheme and the current real estate crisis. What is the “Christian” position on these economic crises? • We need to discuss stewardship. We are managers. We do not own anything. “The earth is the Lord’s and fullness thereof.”

  6. James 5:1-6 • James challenges us to set principles on how we utilize wealth in this life. • He condemns the rich for living in luxury despite so much need in the world. Allude to the neighborhoods surrounding the Ivy League schools which are pockets of affluence surrounded by stark poverty. E. g. Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

  7. James 5:1-6 • In James 5:6, James insinuates that economics paid a decisive role in the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. • Was the crucifixion a political, economic and sociological act? Consider John 11:45-57 and the temple scene in which Jesus turns over the moneychangers’ tables in Mark 11:15-18, Matthew 21:12-17 and Luke 19:45-48.

  8. James 5:7-12 • Let’s define patience. What are its practical components and characteristics? Patience is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). • How do spouses, parents, grandparents, extended family members, friends, coworkers, bosses and other people practice patience relationally? • James tells his audience to be patient until the Second Coming of the Lord. How should they spend their time given that they believed that Christ’s return was imminent?

  9. James 5:7-12 • What do you do when you are waiting? James illustrates waiting with reference to a farmer who awaits harvest. What does the farmer do between planting and harvest (March to October)? • What does the farmer do when the spring and autumn rains fail to come? How should a farmer react to a deep freeze, frost, drought, mudslide, tornado or some other natural disaster or unfortunate event?

  10. James 5:7-12 • In James 5:8, he instructs believers to “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” This exhortation encourages disciples to adhere faithfully to the teachings and principles of Christ regardless of our circumstances. Faithfulness is another fruit of the Holy Spirit. In fact, John the Revelator commands believers to “be faithful unto death.”

  11. James 5:7-12 • In the ninth verse, James orders his audience to resist grumbling against each other. Should Christians publicly criticize each other? How does secular society respond to disagreements amongst Christians? This command is a reminder of the necessity of unity (not uniformity) amongst Christians given the challenges of living authentically as a disciple in the Roman Empire.

  12. James 5:7-12 • Again, James reminds believers that the Lord is the ultimate Judge. He stands at the door. How do we balance these instructions to resist the temptation to judge with Jesus’ teaching that we are to know a tree by the fruit that it bears?

  13. James 5:7-12 • The late Professor Randall Pausch, author of the bestselling book, The Last Lecture, as it relates to patience and relationships, encouraged people to let people whom they least expect to surprise. • James then considers “patience in the face of suffering.” How do you wait for your “change to come?” Addiction and moral misconduct are immediate reactions to long term suffering. They are escape mechanisms which lessen intensity of feelings but do not change circumstances or transform characters.

  14. James 5:7-12 • Possibly, suffering disguises important spiritual and personal lessons. How do we mine the circumstances of suffering to find lessons for spiritual growth and personal development? • James alludes to the “prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” Let’s discuss the teachings of Isaiah (chapters 40 to 66), Jeremiah (chapters 20 to 33) Lamentations, Ezekiel (chapter 37) and Daniel. • Although they experienced incredible hardships, the prophets steadfastly proclaim the word of the Lord. • In the eleventh verse, James characterizes those believers who persevere as “blessed.”

  15. James 5:7-12 • He refers to Job’s perseverance (all 42 chapters of it!). Compare the beginning of the book of Job with the end. But, recall that there are forty (40) chapters between them. • “Full of compassion and mercy,” the Lord repays Job with a superabundance of rewards in exchange for his faithfulness during suffering. • James concludes this passage with an exhortation about integrity. As you “let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” you do not need to swear by anything in heaven or on earth. Essentially, your word, given with the wholehearted intent of underwriting your promises with actions of integrity, will suffice.

  16. James 5:7-12 • Let’s discuss the emergence of written contracts. For many years, the word of Lord was not in writing. Abraham believed God and acted upon His word four hundred years (400) before the Law was written. • Allude to agreement between FBCCH and Hillcrest SDA Church and the role that black letter law played in determining whether the agreement would be honored. • Allude to the renovation crisis at FBCCH with the corrupt and criminal contractor.

  17. James 5:7-12 • Also, some Christians refuse to swear an oath in court and legal proceedings. • In the final analysis, integrity of word and deed is the example Christ teaches us. • Let’s discuss what integrity means for a Christian in the twenty-first century. We will reference specifically credit ratings, debt, loans, promissory notes, marriage, renting, parenting, business deals, etc.

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