Context: There appears to be an abrupt division in this chapter, between verse 6 and verse 7, with the transition introduced by an address to “dear brothers and sisters.” This is a common phrase for James as he talks to his community. At the end of the chapter and the book itself, James again transitions with “my dear brothers and sisters.”
James ends his letter on what I consider at this point to be a very strange note. This is where this biblical book’s status as a true “letter” is questioned in my mind, even as a letter which may have been circulated from church to church. If we read the letters of Paul, many of which were circulated, there are always blessings at the end, what we might consider a proper “closing.” Although James includes a greeting to “Jewish believers scattered abroad” at the beginning of his letter, and although he does become an encouraging pastor in many of the last verses … in the book of James, we do not find a farewell with blessings. Instead we find a parting shot … and yet doesn’t that sound just like James? Bring that sinner back!
In verses 1-6 James sounds off “at” rich people like he did “about” them back in Chapter 2 when he accuses them of slander and oppression. Who is he talking to? Have these rich people always been a part of this community? Have they always been clueless? Have they only recently come into the community? Are they leaders in the church? Are they me?? James boldly challenges the “rich” to consider both the temporal aspect and the source of their wealth. And it is bad.
In verses 7-18 James sounds like a pastor encouraging the “brothers and sisters” to persevere through tough times as they wait for “the Lord’s return” and “the coming of the Lord.” These phrases are translated from the Greek word, parousia {par-oo-see'-ah} which means,
- presence, the coming, arrival, advent, the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God
Going Deeper: I can almost visualize James speaking to “one side” of his reading audience, while shaking his finger of course, to condemn selfish and violent behavior, and then physically turning to the other side as he changes his demeanor and encourages those who are suffering to persevere through their hardships. Once again we see James using contrasting images to drive his point home. He tears down the rich and he builds up the poor.
Remember the story of Jesus and the rich young ruler found in Mark 10:17-22. Jesus is a bit less confrontational and a bit more subtle than James, but he still tells the rich young ruler to “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (vs 21) Even as the rich young ruler calls Jesus “good” Jesus protests. “Only God is truly good.” (vs 18b) It sounds as if this man was a “good” religious man by human standards. It sounds as though he has faith, and that he has shown his faith by the religious life he has led. However, there is this ONE thing standing between him and God … riches! James would most likely have torn the man down. Read James 5:1-6 again to hear what he would have been shouting as the rich young ruler walked away. Jesus didn’t do that. And yet, even as his heart fills with love, Jesus tells the same truth that James tells. He stands there and lets the man walk away. This man’s inability to give up his riches reveals his heart and separates him from God. Jesus tells the disciples after the rich young ruler walks away, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23b)
Pondering: How hard it is for me to listen to the story of the rich young ruler and not try to rationalize my lifestyle! For I am so rich! I am. I may not be rich according to the world’s standards but I have more than I need. “Well,” I say to myself and often to others, “it the love of those riches that is the problem. As long as I don’t love them I must be fine.” After all Paul writes to Timothy, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Look, look, look … it’s the LOVE of money that is the problem. And I am saved by faith not works, too! Here are some questions that James might ask me: Cindy,
• Who are the people in this world who have suffered so that you can have the nice “things” you have?
• Who is this world has starved while you eat all you want and more whenever your stomach growls?
• What child has slaved over a sewing machine so that you could buy a cheap shirt?
• What woman has been a victim of human trafficking because you averted your eyes?
• What mother has lost her son to war so that you could pretend you are safe?
• What young man has taken his life because you refuse to stand up for the rights of every human being?
• How many innocent men have been executed because you don’t work hard enough for the death penalty to be abolished?
These are just some of the questions that well up in my soul. My intention is not to project them onto anyone else. The questions that are beginning to rumble around in the depths of your soul may be totally different than mine. I don’t mean these questions to be so overwhelmingly simplistic that people roll their eyes nor so naively unattainable that they are immediately discarded. I do hope they challenge you to allow your own questions to rise to the surface.
So, here we are at the end of our journey with James. And in the end what we find is that what we do is a reflection of who we are. We can learn a lot about who we are from examining our life, allowing the deep questions to emerge from deep within. So, what are the questions that well up in your soul to teach you who you are?
Prayer: If you have taken some time to sit with the questions that God has given you about your life, perhaps it would be comforting to read Psalm 51 which is the Psalm that tradition says David wrote after Nathan confronted him about his affair with Bathsheba, a married woman with who he had an affair, and whose husband David tried to eliminate …
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement.
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
If music is the pathway to your soul … watch these videos from youtube … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mhNlk6Nsh0&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmY5-8pd8rs
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