Commentary on James 5, Written by Mel

Commentary on James 5, Written by my Husband, Mel

Many people seek after riches all the days of their lives and give little thought of eternity. The popular saying that he who dies with the most toys wins, is far from the truth. When it is your time to depart this life, you cannot take your worldly possessions with you, or buy your way into heaven. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Christ said that you cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve God and mammon (money). Christ also said, that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter heaven. A needle was an arched entrance through the wall into Jerusalem. It was designed to limit camel traffic in Jerusalem. A camel would have to crawl on it's knees through the gate. Christ was not saying that it is impossible for a rich person to enter heaven, rather it is very difficult.

 The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil and it has corrupted many. Many television evangelists and mega-church leaders have lost their souls do to greed. James teaches that if you are an employer and withhold the wages of your laborers who mow your fields, or your reapers who cry out to the Lord, you have fattened yourself for the day of slaughter. Nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord, and you will reap destruction if you defraud your workers.

 I know a man who bought a manufactured home for a very low price, and then rented it out to a missionary with a large family, for a very high price. This man who was a faithful church member, will answer to God for this. We will be held accountable by the Lord for how we treat our fellow man. If you are an employer, or a landlord, be careful how you treat those who depend upon you. 

5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 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. 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. ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

James tells us not to grumble against one another lest you be condemned. Gossip and backbiting may seen like small issues to most, but to God this is a major sin. The Lord dealt with me on this issue in the past. In a few dreams, as well as words, the Lord showed me to never speak an unkind word against another, but to reflect the love of Christ to all. If we bite and devour one another the love of Christ is not perfected in our hearts. We are to reflect the attributes of Christ so others may also desire a relationship with the Lord. The taming of the tongue is not easy, but necessary. We must all learn to bring our carnal nature under the control of God's Spirit through self discipline. All things are possible through Christ who gives us strength.

If we truly walk with Christ we will suffer persecution. If you are crucified with Christ you will no longer live as the world lives. To be born again is to be set apart from the sinful world. As we endure persecution we will become stronger spiritually, as well as an example of patience and self control to those who are watching us. The world sees too many hypocrites, they need to see genuine Christians who live a disciplined life, in their daily walk. (Luke 9:23) Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  

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. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 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.

James tells us to let your "yes", be "yes," and your "no", be " no", lest you fall into judgment. God's Word teaches us that no liar shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Telling the truth is most important for us to maintain our Christian witness, as well as our spiritual health. Our word should mean everything to us.

 The Jewish people of Christ's day would swear by everything, including their head, in order to make people believe what they were telling them. Christ, as well as James, was teaching them that this was wrong, because their honesty should be evident to all.

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

If you are suffering from an illness, I suggest you seek the Great Physician, Jesus Christ for healing. Allow the elders of your church to lay hands on you, as well as anoint, and pray over you, for your healing. Be sure these are Godly men who lay hands on you, so demonic transference does not occur. Some ministers with a counterfeit, or familiar spirit, may transfer an evil spirit upon you.

 It is the prayer of faith that will move God's hand on your behalf. Christ told some that he healed, "Be it unto you according to your faith", or, "your faith has made you well." If you doubt, your sickness will remain. James also said that you sins will be forgiven.

 Christ told a paralyzed man that he healed, to sin no more, lest something worse come upon you.  (John 5:¹⁴⁾ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” In some cases sin will bring about a curse of sickness.

 However, we live in a fallen world and sickness may not be the result of sin. Christ was asked what sin a man committed that he was born blind. Christ told them that his blindness was not the result of sin, but that the works of God may be revealed in him (John 9:1-3).

 Walking in bitterness, or refusing to forgive others, may also prevent your healing. You must leave your gift at the altar, and make peace with your brother, before offering your gift before the Lord. This also applies to healing, you must make peace with others before being granted your healing. Divine healing occurs by the will of God, not man, so continue to seek God for his will and don't be discouraged. 

¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

If you have wronged someone, you need to confess your sin to them and seek their forgiveness, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. Forgiveness and reconciliation are crucial for both spiritual, as well as physical health.

¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

It is a hard thing to confront someone about their sin, but you are doing them no favor by being silent. If you know someone bound by pornography, lust, jealousy, disruptive behaviors, or substance abuse for example, talk to them about repentance before God. If you turn the sinner from his ways, you will save his soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins.