BellaOnline Forums Family Christian Living Bible Study -- James chapter 5

Now that we are finishing James - please feel free to still post in any of the chapters. I don't want to rush thru it! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Moving on to chapter 5. Feel free to comment on any question or all or anything this chapter brings to mind

vs. 1-6...Is it a sin to be rich?

vs. 7-11... How do you describe patience?

vs. 12...What does it mean to let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" no?

vs. 13-20..."The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Walvoord, Zuck says the the "sick" James is referring to are actually the spiritually sick - translated 'to be weak' as in weak faith or conscience and 'to be weary.'
He was writing to those who had become weak morally and spiritually in the midst of suffering? --1 Thes. 5:14 says that the church leaders were to encourage the timid and help the weak.
The commentary points to anointing with oil as a means of bestowing honor and refreshment as in Luke 7:38 and Luke 7:46 - and grooming as in Matt. 6:17.
So the discouraged and weary believer should be prayed for and encouraged by the elders.

What do you think? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

James 5....
Verses 1-6

James 5:4- "Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty."

Are we encouraging those who do the work of the Lord? Those he has called to reach the masses? Are we supporting the ministries that He has sanctioned to gather His children unto Himself? Or are we hoarding what he has blessed us with to use and abuse and throw away on empty thrills.

Who are the rich? Are they the people we know who seem to have everything or are they those He has called who do not obey the calling. I think these verses are talking about obedience. Are we obedient with what God has given us spiritually.

verses 7-12

Patience is a virtue my mother always said. But in order to have perfect patience, one must have trust. We should trust in the Lord. He knows best and His timing is impeccable. A farmer has patience with the land and he knows that it will yeild the crop in it's own time. He can only do so much and can't MAKE it happen. He has to trust that the rain will come and the crop will grow. I've never seen a farmer go out into the field and pull the corn out of the ground because he wanted to cut it right then. Anyone who knows about farming knows the corn grows when it wants to. The farmer can borrow against the coming crop because he trusts the land that he harvests. It WILL produce. He continues to work the field and tend to the chores never giving up the hope of the crop.

"Let your yes be yes and your no be no."

Faith in the Lord has to be solid. We are ambassadors for Christ so we have to represent His solidarity on earth before unbelievers. We're supposed to be a light that shines and salt the flavors. But we can't be if we are wavering in our faith. Standing firm for the Lord means that we are always firm and our yes is always yes to Him and our No is always No to the temptations of the world that divide and destroy our relationship with Christ.

Verses 13-20

My favorite is verse 19 and 20. "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins."

Our job is to always bring Christ into the world. Wherever we go, He should be going too. Everyone should just know by our actions that Christ is with us. That we have died to the world and live only for Him. Our sacrifices should be eveident in the small things we do and say. We don't need to be afraid of the world or those who want to try to drag us down. We're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who testifiy to our faith. There is power in the Holy Spirit and He is present when we gather together and call on Him.

A woman I know puts it this way. She says we stink to nonbelievers. They can't stand being around the light that emenates from within us. It shines on all that is dead in their own lives so they have to turn away and ridicule us for our faith. We are to perservere toward our eternity with Christ and believe His promises.

I like to take James 5:1-6 just as it is written (I'm using the NIV)
I think he is talking to people who hoard their money - not using it for the good of anyone else.
Yes, not supporting those who actively work in the church, preaching, mission work, etc. but also just being selfish such as not paying their employees enough to live on.
To answer my own question - I don't think it is a sin to be rich. God blesses many people with monetary gain. I think it is a sin to hoard it or love money more than God or other people.

Patience: To me, it is taking the troubles of this world in stride - looking forward to the God's promise of a heavenly home.

"Let your yes by yes and your no be no."
I take this to mean be completely honest and straight-forward. No ulterior motives or underlying plans for what I say. If I say something, no one will have to wonder what I really mean or what I'm trying to accomplish.

I know that some people react in anger toward Christians. But hopefully, the majority will see something in my life that they want in theirs. I want them to see Jesus in me and then want to get to know Him better.

My experience with "Fundie" Christians... not to be confused with Fundamentalist Christians, is that they are judgemental, critical, and think that I stink and that I am going to hell in a handbasket, and believe me they aren't afraid to say so. They will do their best to invalidate my beliefs and shove their own down my throat. Maybe that's why so many think that Christians in general stink. It has nothing to do with any type of light shining from any part of your body, spirit, or soul. It has everything to do with over zealous pushy "Fundie" Christians.

I have a Bumper sticker on my van that states, "A Fundie is a Fundie no matter if they pray to God or Goddess."

Merry Christmas ladies.