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Proverbs 3:25-35
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of
trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence, And
will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is
due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and
come back, And tomorrow I will give it,"
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For
he dwells by you for safety's sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he
has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of
his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the
just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives
grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall
be the legacy of fools.
Father God, it is only through the
gift of Grace that we can have the endurance to remain faithful in all things
in our life. We thank you for that! In
Jesus
name we pray, Amen!
Book of James 5:1-12 NKJV
With this being the last chapter of
the book, James gives us some more warnings and guidance on how to live a life
modeled after our Saviour Jesus in verses 1-12. He concludes his writings with
things we shall do not only for ourselves, but also for our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
How has this Book of James affected
you so far? Has it made a difference in the way you live? Are you trying to
make changes in your life so that you reflect the image of Jesus to those
around you? It is a tough thing to change old habit, but with the help of the
Holy Spirit, constant praying, and submitting to Jesus to help you, changes are
possible, for all things are possible through Jesus Christ. By submitting
yourself at the foot of the Cross to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you of
your bad habits victory can be had. As James has told us we have to humble
ourselves and approach the Cross with an open and contrite heart because Jesus
can see what lies in our hearts and He knows if you really want to submit to
Him.
1 Come now,
you rich, weep and howl for
your miseries that are coming upon you!
Come
now; James uses the
same words in 4:13
to get the attention of his believing listeners. In other words he is saying;
really; are you serious; do you know what you are saying?
You rich; James is giving a warning here to the
rich, those that worship money and want more and more of it. It is that greed
that they never have enough. He is not saying it is wrong to have money because
we need money to survive; missions need money to function; churches need money
to minister to people, etc., but it is what people do with money that can be
wrong. It is the love of money that causes some to obtain it through deception
and fraud. The upcoming verses tell us that and this is what James is talking
about. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have
strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.
Weep and howl for your miseries that
are coming upon you; What this
phrase is referring to is the weeping and howling these money hungry people
will experience one day when they stand before God and He places judgment on
them and sends them to eternal Hell. Remember the torment Lazarus the rich man
was experiencing after his death? The greedy rich are laying up treasures here
on earth instead of treasure for Heaven. Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
2 Your
riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
The
riches of such people are viewed as corrupt and disgusting to God. They are
riches obtained by immoral means and then hoarded for own personal use and
gain. These riches help no one including the person hoarding the money when
life is over.
Many
times people work hard for the money they have and save it for later in life,
but sometimes they never get to use the money due to illness or death. Their
money is like a blanket is to a toddler, it gives them comfort and security,
instead of relying on Jesus to provide for them. I wonder how many times it has
happened where a person saved all of their life but when they left this earth
their money was spent on frivolous things by the people left behind?
3 Your gold
and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and
will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
Your gold and silver are corroded; Here again let me say that having
money is not wrong, it is what a person does with the money. Is it for personal
gain or to benefit mankind? This is why James is saying their money was
corroded because it was all being obtained by unrighteous means and then used
selfishly.
And their corrosion will be a witness
against you; God
provides us with the money we have, but if we use it in the wrong way, one day
it will be used as evidence against us.
And will eat your flesh like fire; The love of money will eat away a
person’s vision to see clearly. They will be consumed, like fire consumes, with
the lust of making more and more money. Just think of the story about Ebenezer
Scrooge and how he was consumed with wealth and could not see past his desire
to make money for himself. This is what James is talking about and warning
against.
You
have heaped up treasure in the last days; Those that heap up monetary treasures here on earth for
themselves are heaping up wrath against themselves come judgment day. Romans 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your
impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
4 Indeed
the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud,
cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of
Sabaoth.
Indeed the wages of the laborers who
mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; Those that cheat their employees for
their gain commit more than being greedy. They sin against God by being
dishonest, deceitful, not loving their neighbor, lying, etc. This phrase also
tells us there is way too much heaped up at the expense of others.
And the cries of the reapers have
reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth; God is all knowing and nothing can be hid from Him. He
hears the cries of those being treated unfairly and He will deal with these
people just as they have dealt with people here on earth.
What is Sabaoth? This word appears hear and also in Romans 9:29. Sabaoth [SABB a ohth} is the Greek form of the Hebrew word,
tsebaoth, meaning "armies", and is translated in the
Authorized Version of the Old Testament by "Lord of hosts" or "Lord
God of hosts".
5 You have
lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in
a day of slaughter.
You have lived on the earth in
pleasure and luxury; Referring
back to verse 4 and what it states, James is saying those that have wealth and
sit back and live a life of doing what they want; when they want; to please
their flesh while others do all the work under undesirable work conditions and
also cheated out of a fair wage, will one day suffer the consequences of this
lifestyle here on earth.
This
lifestyle picture that James is painting for us, brings to mind the lifestyle
portrayed in movies and TV shows of wealthy plantation owners where they live a
life of luxury while others do all the work.
You have fattened your hearts as in a
day of slaughter; This
phrase is giving a warning to anyone living a life of pleasure and luxury at
the expense of others, they are subjecting themselves to Judgment. Just as
animals are confined to a feedlot and have all they require for life to grow big
and fat for the slaughter, these people are the same.
6 You have
condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
Some
interpret this verse as to referring to Jesus being condemned and crucified
with no resistance on His part. If you go back to verse one and read through
verse seven you will see it is all about the wealthy and labors of the wealthy.
God does not take kindly to those that take advantage of others for personal
gain.
You have condemned; This most likely refers to holding
back the wages due, causing a person not to be able to pay their taxes or
provide for their family, resulting in being condemned to prison.
You have murdered the just; With a person in prison they may die
or a family member die of starvation.
He does not resist you; “He”, meaning the laborer may not have
resisted because of the power of the wealthy employer, it would have been in
vain, just as it would have been in vain for our Lord Jesus Christ to resist
the Pharisees.
7 Therefore
be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
James
changes the topic now to patience. Is he speaking to the laborers or brother
and sister believers? Since he uses the word brethren he is addressing all
believers.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until
the coming of the Lord; The
only cure for the injustices of this planet will be the second coming of our
Lord. James is telling us to be patient and also to be prepared in the next
phrase.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain; This phrase compares the life of a
farmer to that of a Christian. A farmer doesn’t just plant the crop and then
forget about it until harvest, he nurtures the crop by inspecting it regularly,
cultivating out the unwanted vegetation, irrigating it if capable to do so, in
other words being a steward of the crop. He waits patiently during the growing
season in anticipation of a great harvest. We as Christians are to do the same,
as we patiently wait and anticipate Jesus return to bring righteousness to
earth. We are to do work for Jesus while waiting, by promoting His Kingdom and
pointing souls to the Heavenly path.
8 You also
be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
This
verse goes right along with verse seven in that we are to be ready for the
coming of the Lord, not that we will be here at His second coming, but be ready
if our life ends today or the Rapture happens today.
9 Do not
grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge
is standing at the door!
Do not grumble against one another,
brethren; We murmur
and complain when things go wrong because we think we are being treated
unfairly; or we don’t agree with a point of view or how to do something; of
being neglected or taking offense to something. Some people are always grumpy
and have a sour, dissatisfied, discontented temper; they see no excellence in
other people; they may be displeased that others are more prospered, honored,
and beloved than they are themselves; they are always complaining of what
others do. It is needless to say that this spirit is the offspring of pride and
will make any person lead a wretched life, which is contrary to the spirit of
the Gospel.
When
things go wrong, we tend to grumble against and blame others for our miseries
also. Blaming others is easier than owning up to our share of the
responsibility. Even Adam and Eve shifted the blame from themselves to others. Genesis
3:11-13
Lest you be condemned; We must always remember that if we unjustly
condemn someone that one day we will be judged by the same standard we use.
There will be no excuses and no shifting of blame to others. Matthew
7:1-5
Behold, the Judge is standing at the
door; This refers to
the Lord Jesus and His readiness to avenge all wrong.
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the
name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
James
is telling his brethren to exercise patience in their trials and persecutions
and points them to the examples of those who had trod the same thorny path
before them. The prophets generally were a persecuted race and if the prophets
were persecuted and tried, they could expect the same. With the prophets
suffering and patience, they are a great role model.
11 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.
With
James using the prophets as an example we are to learn and apply to our life endurance
through hardship. Job never gave up and continued believing in God, that what
was happening to him was God’s will and that God would see him through it. By
this faith and endurance God was compassionate and merciful and blessed Job in
the end many times over.
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.
But above all, my brethren, do not
swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; James shows that he regarded an
oath/swear of any kind, a sin of a very heinous nature; one that was by all
means to be avoided by those whom he addressed. The habit of swearing by
various things was a very common thing among the Jews.
But let your "Yes" be
"Yes," and your
"No," "No," lest you fall into judgment; A person with a reputation for
exaggeration or lying often can't get anyone to believe him on his word. Always
be honest so that others will believe your simple yes or no. By avoiding lies,
half-truths, and omissions of the truth, you will become known as a trustworthy
person and avoid judgment.
Colossians
1:16 For
by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans
3:23 for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans
6:23 For
the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say
to you,
unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you
believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord
Jesus I know I am a sinner. I confess my
sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a
sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.” (John 3:16,17;
Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
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