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James 5:1-20 Wealth, Suffering and Prayer

by fol CHURCH on May 20, 2019

Today’s reading is divided under three titles and we will look at them as they are written.

 Firstly then, the warning to the rich oppressors.  This must be read in context. James was writing this letter to the Christian Jews around 45-47AD. The wealthy Sadducees were well known for lording themselves over the ordinary people of Jerusalem, for hoarding wealth and living luxurious and over indulgent lifestyles. This included being slow to pay wages to their workers, something which could be viewed as a type of fraud or theft. I like to think of the teaching that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. 

James goes on to write about patience in suffering. When we are in a place of suffering patience is not always the first character trait that comes to the fore. In my own suffering I often just long to be well and to be able to return to my usual abilities. Sometimes suffering causes us to have to stop our usual routines, or even to totally reassess and reorder our lives if the problem is going to have a permanent impact. James encourages his readers by reminding them of the outcome of Job’s suffering and that sometimes the result of our suffering may be an even greater wealth, as was the case for Job, or that we grow and learn as human beings to rely and trust in God even more than we had perhaps believed possible before the suffering we endured.

Finally then James looks at the prayer of faith. He gives the same instruction to those who are in trouble and to those who are happy. Pray. We all have our own style of prayer. For some it may be silent contemplation, for others a verbose waterfall of thanks and requests. It’s simply us communicating with our Creator in the best way we can. Sometimes we don’t even need to speak, silently or aloud. We can simply rest in the Spirit and be assured that He knows our every thought and need.

This final chapter of the book of James contains so much and yet is so simple. Don’t focus on the things of this world, which are temporary and include material things, suffering of all kinds, physical and mental, but set your goals on the eternal life which awaits us in our Father’s kingdom. Amen.

 

 

 

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Heavenly Father you are such a mighty God who loves His children with such passion and power. Help me to follow you more nearly and love you more dearly today and always. In Jesus name. Amen.

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