Last night we continued our study through the book of James, looking at his denunciation of rich oppressors in chapter 5 verses 1-6 and his instructions to Christians in verses 7 through 11. James gives us God’s word on how to think and act whether we find ourselves with or without money, and it has to do with not letting either of those situations define us. Here are the notes:
5:1-6 A Prophetic Denunciation of Non-Believing, Rich Oppressors
How most people would see these people: pleasure and luxury (v.5)
What God sees when he looks at these people, based on how James describes this group’s actions:
v.3 Hoarding—They keep more treasure then they use, to the point that it is like rusted metal.
v.4 Exploitation—They get rich by ripping others off.
v.5 Extravagance—their own comfort, status and pleasure is their main motivation
v.6 Oppression—they twist justice and use power to maintain their position, making others suffer
What is the actual status of these people, based on how James describes their spiritual state:
v.1. Blind to reality—they are enjoying their situation, but if they knew the truth, they’d freak out.
v.3 Condemned—their wealth is evidence against them that will condemn them in God’s court. Ignorant of the times—they’ve stored up treasure, but it’s the last days, so it’s all meaningless
v.4 The warrior God is fully aware of the outcry against them. He’s not happy.
v.5 they’ve been fattening themselves for the slaughter.
Point: how does this apply to us?
- It applies directly, then and now, to people who get rich at other people’s expense, and use it to get richer. This can include people who are politicians, corporate execs and other business people, landlords, slave traders, warlords, drug dealers, pimps, and more. It applies indirectly to people who heap up wealth and use it only to live in luxury, and refuse to help the poor and helpless (see 1:27). This could include anyone economically in this category, regardless of their job or lack of job.
- It is not meant to apply to any Christian. If someone considers themselves a Christian and this passage describes them, James would call them to repent, as he does in 4:2-10, and show that they have faith by a change in their life.
- How does it apply to us, here tonight? Assuming you’re not actively oppressing anyone, there are still things to learn from this passage.
- We live in a country where most of us are going to have access to some wealth. Unlike the Christians in this letter, who were more likely to be on the receiving end of this oppression , economically (see 2:6-7), a lot of us might have the opportunity to be economically more like the oppressors James mentions. So the first thing we need to think about is, do I have anything in my life that is like this? Do I find these tendencies in my heart? We should ask the Lord to expose and root out of our hearts anything that: loves things more than people, feels calloused towards the suffering of others, is willing to ignore those we have an obligation to, lets comfort and wealth make us forget the nearness of Christ’s coming and the judgment of God. Now, as westerners, if something doesn’t change we’ll probably live our lives as some of the world’s wealthiest people—And that gives us a special responsibility to check ourselves next to God’s word.
- We could also discuss systemic economic injustice that basically all people in the west participate in by being part of the economy. Maybe a future study or blog post…
We should gauge our response by how James has already taught us to think about these things: Let the reality of God’s kingdom and eternity redefine both wealth and poverty (1:9-11). Use our resources to take care of people that don’t have them (1:27). Refuse to let socio-economic status affect how we see or treat others (2:1-9). Show our faith by taking care of other Christians who are in need (2:15-16). Take steps to prevent desire for pleasure to control what we want out of life (4:1-5). Pass all our future plans to make money through the grid of, “Does this please God?” (4:13-17).
5:7-11 How oppressed Christians should respond
- Patience with people who oppose us. Like a farmer, who plants seeds and waits because he knows they’ll grow. (v.7)
- Strengthen your hearts. Fight feelings of inner weakness by remembering that the Lord is coming soon—and all wrongs will be put right. (v.8)
- Don’t grumble against each other. (v.9)
- Let the bible teach you how to live and think—remember the prophets! (v.10 )
- Be like the prophets—speak God’s word faithfully to your generation, even when it’s unpopular. (v.10)
- Endure difficult situations. (v.11)
- Be like Job. Refuse to renounce God, and pray it out. (v.11)
- Persevere until the situation changes—all the way to the end. (v.11)
Ending challenge:
Realize: just because we’re not being oppressed today, doesn’t mean it can’t ever happen. We need to know the bible’s teaching for oppressed people so we are ready if it comes. But even if we’re not being oppressed, the key is for Christians to act like this all the time! In this way we identify with those who are oppressed, and we do the important work of making sure God’s word is the thing that is shaping our lives.