With Anticipation Believers should turn to God when facing the trials of life.

Transcription

1 Session 13 > James 5:7-9,13-20 With Anticipation Believers should turn to God when facing the trials of life. Every time a biblical expert has forecast the exact date of Christ s return, I have wondered whether the person has read Mark 13:32: Concerning that day or hour no one knows neither the angels in heaven nor the Son but only the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don t know when the time is coming. Immediately prior to Jesus ascension, His disciples asked whether He was about to restore Israel s fortunes to inaugurate the messianic kingdom. Jesus replied: It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority (Acts 1:7). Some things only God knows, and He is not telling any of us. Living in light of Christ s second coming can be healthy or unhealthy. If we anticipate His coming at a time of God s choosing and let our expectation spur us to dedicated discipleship, we anticipate correctly. If we become absorbed in pinpointing the precise date of His return, we waste precious time and can miss opportunities for ministry. An insightful seminary professor introduced me to what I consider to be the healthy approach to living in light of Christ s return. As we wait expectantly, we are to live out our Christian faith in daily life. We are to continue working to advance Christ s redemptive purpose. When He comes, we are to be found faithful. For me, Jesus gave His disciples and His followers today the clearest counsel concerning His return. In a parable preserved in Matthew 24:45-51, He told of a master who placed a slave in charge of the household while the master was away. The slave was charged with supplying other household members needs. If the slave was working diligently when the master returned, he would be rewarded. Conversely, if the slave used his master s delayed return as an opportunity to abuse his role as manager and to live loosely, the slave would face the master s condemnation. The obvious lesson is that Christ s followers are to be found faithfully doing His work as they await His return. 130 Explore the Bible

2 UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT JAMES 5:1-20 To this point in his letter, James had referred to rich people several times. In 1:10, he warned them that life is fragile and uncertain. In 2:2-4, the rich man in James s illustration was shown preferential treatment in a Christian gathering. In 2:5-7, James directed withering indictments against rich people who oppressed believers. In all these instances, the contexts give only slight clues about whether the people addressed were Christians or unbelievers. In 5:1-6, little doubt exists that the rich people James indicted were unbelievers. James began with urging them to express grief because of the severe hardships in store for them (5:1). He warned that the wealth on which they depended would disappear. The rich people s grain would rot; moths would eat their clothing; and their precious metals would become tarnished and corroded (5:2-3). Their wealth would consume them as fire destroyed flammable material, a terrible picture of judgment (5:3). James s vivid imagery emphasized wealth s worthlessness apart from relationship with God. The wealthy unbelievers James addressed were landowners who withheld the pay of their hired workers (5:4). Jewish law required employers to pay day laborers at the end of each day. Oppressive landowners refused to pay, putting the workers in peril. The oppressed workers could do nothing to force the landowners to pay; and in their distress, they cried out to God. The ominous implication was that God would call the oppressors to account. James charged that the wealthy oppressors lived in luxury, spending the riches gained at poor people s expense on themselves, indulging in selfish pleasures (5:5). Unknowingly, they were setting themselves up for judgment. James charged the rich with controlling the courts for favorable verdicts against the righteous poor and of killing them to achieve the wealthy people s aims (5:6). The righteous poor had no power to resist their oppressors. EXPLORE THE TEXT PATIENCE (Jas. 5:7-9) VERSE 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. Session 13: With Anticipation 131

3 The term therefore ( then, NIV) begins James s counsel to believers and connects what follows with the reference to final judgment in 5:6. Believers were suffering rich people s oppression, but a day of reckoning was coming. James encouraged believers to be patient until the Lord s coming. At that time, rich oppressors would be condemned and the righteous would be vindicated. The Greek word translated be patient is a command and means do not lose heart, persevere. It can have the sense of bearing long with someone or of waiting with patient expectation. The overriding idea was not mere waiting but enduring while undergoing trials. James urged believers to persevere in the face of opposition until Christ s return, His second coming. Some Christians may have expected Christ s return at any moment and may have expressed anxiety at the delay. The Greek term rendered coming can also mean presence. The Greeks used the term for a ruler s visit to one of his cities. His kingly presence was so evident that all recognized His sovereignty. James stressed the certainty of Christ s coming as the manifestation of the King who would set all things right. James used a familiar illustration from farming to emphasize Christians need to wait expectantly for Christ s return. A farmer sowed seeds and plowed them under. Then he waited in expectation of a harvest the precious fruit of the earth ( valuable crop, NIV). The anticipated harvest was beyond price because lives depended on it. The farmer was patient; he waited expectantly for the early and the late rains ( the autumn and spring rains, NIV). The people of the holy land depended heavily on two annual seasons (one or two months) of rain for their food supply. Rains outside these times were rare. Thus, the farmer in James s illustration worked in anticipation of the two rains that would bring an abundant harvest. VERSE 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord s coming is near. The Greek term rendered must be patient is an emphatic command, literally you yourselves be patient. As the farmer waited expectantly for rain, so believers were to eagerly anticipate Christ s return. They were to strengthen their hearts ( stablish your hearts, KJV; stand firm, NIV). The Greek word translated strengthen has the sense of being mentally settled, mentally steadfast. The term hearts referred to the center of believers lives, the seat of intellect, will, and emotions. At their cores, believers were to remain firm in enduring opposition without retaliating and in waiting expectantly for Christ s return. They were to be courageous and confident. James gave the reason for determined perseverance: The Lord s coming was near ( draweth 132 Explore the Bible

4 nigh, KJV; is at hand. ESV). The Greek term rendered near has the sense of being poised to break into history, of being in motion. With the emphasis that Christ s return was close at hand, James assured believers they would be vindicated and their oppressors would be judged. Christ s return would mark the completion of their salvation. Today, believers likewise can live in the confident expectation of Christ s return. VERSE 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! James instructed believers not to complain about one another ( grudge not, KJV; do not grumble, ESV). The Greek word translated complain can have the idea of giving vent to hostile or harshly critical feelings. The word s form has the sense of stopping something that was already occurring. Ceasing their harsh criticism of one another would avert the Lord s judgment. Christ, the ultimate Judge, was at the door; He was poised to reenter history as exalted Sovereign and all-knowing Judge. That awareness should have caused believers to stop grumbling about one another. In 5:10-11, James gave two illustrations of enduring opposition and suffering. The believers to whom he wrote would have been familiar with both references. First, James called attention to the Old Testament prophets. Faithful prophets, who delivered their messages with God s authority, were prime examples of persevering in the face of opposition (5:10). Second, James reminded believers of Job s endurance (5:11) his persistent faith and perseverance in the confident expectation he would be vindicated. In the end, the Lord brought about an outcome for Job that proved God s compassion and mercy. EXPLORE FURTHER How does the certainty that Christ could return at any moment affect your daily living? How are you preparing for His return? PRAYER (Jas. 5:13-18) VERSE 13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Session 13: With Anticipation 133

5 Believers were to be people of their word who did not need to attach oaths to their declarations. James s admonition in 5:12 clearly echoed Jesus command to His followers in Matthew 5: Believers integrity made any kind of oath unnecessary. A simple yes or no was sufficient. If any of them used God s name to bolster their statements, they invited His judgment. Instead of criticizing one another or using God s name in oaths, believers were to pray. James s questions in 5:13 were rhetorical and assumed a yes answer. The Greek word translated suffering ( afflicted, KJV; in trouble, NIV) means to experience evil or afflictions, to be troubled or dejected. It has the sense of enduring hardship, and James likely referred to the dejection believers difficulties could cause them. The Greek term was broad enough to encompass sickness and grief. Whatever their hardships, believers were to pray. The Greek word has the sense of continually asking God for help. Some believers were cheerful ( merry, KJV; happy, NIV). The Greek term means to be in good spirits, to be joyful. James exhorted them to sing praises. The Greek term first meant to play on a stringed instrument and then to sing along with the sound of the notes. The idea was to keep on making melody in an attitude of worship. VERSE 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Some believers could not make melody in their hearts because they were sick. The Greek term rendered sick means to be without strength. Believers who were suffering illnesses should summon their church s elders. These were church leaders, probably similar to today s pastors. Patterned after the Jewish synagogue, each church had elders to give spiritual leadership. Although the New Testament does not give their job description, one aspect of their work was ministry to the sick. The elders service to the sick involved two actions. First, elders called to an ill person s bedside were to pray over the individual, standing close to the bed in order to express fervency and confidence in the power of prayer. The Greek term for pray is the same word used in 5:13 for petitioning God during hardships. Elders were to ask God to heal the sick person. Second, elders were to anoint the sick individual with oil. At that time, olive oil was used in cooking, as fuel for lamps, and in treating wounds. It was highly valued for its help in the healing process, as was wine. The added phrase in the name of the Lord placed the sick person in God s (or Christ s) continuing activity among His people and stressed His power to heal. 134 Explore the Bible

6 We need to be clear concerning James s directive to early believers. He instructed that the sick receive religious and medical help. He stressed that God (or Christ) has the key role in all healing and that the best available medical care is to be sought. The tremendous medical advances in our day are God s gifts to us, as are highly skilled doctors. We can and should avail ourselves of these gifts and are to pray that God will use them and add His power to them to bring healing. VERSE 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. A petition for a sick person offered in trust in God s power and compassion would save the individual. In the context of 5:14-15, the Greek word translated save means to cure, to restore to health. In other contexts, it means to rescue from danger and to rescue or deliver from sin. The statement the Lord will raise him up has the idea of restoring the person to health, of restoring strength so the individual could arise from bed and resume normal activities. James did not mean that every sick person then or now will thus be healed of all physical maladies. James went on to add that if the healed person had committed sins, the individual would be forgiven. The statement s structure presents the possibility (not the certainty) that the individual needed forgiveness for sins. The Greek term rendered sins (literally sin ) means falling short of or missing God s standards for life. The term translated forgiven has the sense of dismissing or sending away sins, of pardoning a sinner. James did not mean all health problems are the result of sin. Some sins do issue in physical problems, but not all maladies can be traced directly to wrongdoing. VERSE 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. The word therefore connects God s hearing and responding to prayers offered in trust in Him with believers need to confess their sins ( faults, KJV) to one another. The Greek word translated confess means to agree, to profess openly and has the idea of full and frank admission of specific sins. Possible understandings of James s injunction include: (1) public confession before the congregation; (2) confession to ministering elders; and (3) confession to trusted Christian friends. I prefer the third view, although Session 13: With Anticipation 135

7 I am acutely aware that not all believers can be trusted to keep confidences. We must carefully choose the people to whom we confess our wrongs. The term for sins (literally sin ) is the same word James used in 5:15 for wrongdoing. Believers were to function as priests to one another, which involved a high level of trust so that confessions were not passed on to the confessors detriment. Instead of airing confessions, believers were to pray ( keep on praying ) for one another. In this context, their intercession had to do with asking for God s forgiveness and healing power for ailing believers who confessed they had sinned. Intercession, however, can have wider application. One suggestion is that the phrase so that you may be healed refers to spiritual healing. In any case, prayer was to be a vital part of believers relationships. James stressed the effectiveness of the prayer of a righteous person ( the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, KJV). The Greek term for prayer has the sense of supplication, of pleading for a specific need to be met. The phrase a righteous person designated a person in right relationship with God, a person of genuine faith. The phrase is very powerful in its effect ( availeth much, KJV; has great power as it is working, ESV) translates three Greek words that literally read has great power being operative. The sense could be that righteous people s prayers received God s answers or that right standing with God and sincerity were essential for powerful prayers. VERSES Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. James cited a familiar Old Testament example of powerful, effective praying. He called attention to Elijah, the great prophet in Israel in the ninth century BC. In first-century Jewish thought, Elijah was revered as being almost more than human, a cut above mere mortals. James pointed out, however, that Elijah was a human being as believers were ( subject to like passions as we are, KJV; with a nature like ours, ESV). Elijah had strengths and weaknesses, positive and negative emotions, successes and failures as did every other person. The incident in which Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain in Israel and then later according to James s understanding prayed again for rain to return is found in 1 Kings The phrase the sky ( the heaven, KJV) gave rain was an oblique reference to God as the source of rain. James s point was that if God heard the decidedly human Elijah s prayers, He would likewise hear believers prayers for one another. The condition was 136 Explore the Bible

8 that their prayers be focused and intense as were Elijah s. In addition, prayers had to be offered in the context of a close relationship with God. Today, believers should take all matters to God in prayer, trusting Him to answer their petitions. Our confidence should be that He will answer in ways beneficial to us and according to His will and redemptive purpose. EXPLORE FURTHER Read the section New Testament in the article titled Prayer on pages in the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Revised and Expanded. Why is prayer an essential discipline in the Christian life? What is your pattern of prayer? What do you consider to be valid petitions? PROTECTING (Jas. 5:19-20) VERSE 19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, The word if introduces a possible occurrence among believers. James s repeated expression of relatedness as God s family members stressed his deep love and care for them. Sadly, some believers could (and did) stray from the truth ( err from the truth, KJV; wanders from the truth, ESV). The Greek word translated strays means to wander (from the right path), to sin. The phrase the truth refers to the gospel s guidelines for living. James did not have in mind the possibility of losing one s salvation but rather Christians whose commitment to Christ was weakening and who were becoming disobedient. These believers may have distanced themselves from their churches. In James s envisioned scenario, a fellow believer was instrumental in reclaiming a straying Christian. The phrase turns him back ( convert him, KJV) has the idea of returning someone to strong commitment to Christ. It has undertones of repentance. Even as members of the community of faith were to minister to one another through aid to the poor (see 2:15-16), mutual confession (5:16), and prayer for the sick (5:13-16), so they were to seek to restore Christians whose faith-commitments were weakening. VERSE 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Session 13: With Anticipation 137

9 The believer who was instrumental in restoring a faltering Christian to faithful discipleship could be sure that he/she had done an eternally significant good work. The term sinner described a person who had left the right path, who no longer walked the straight and narrow. The phrase the error of his way indicated the wanderer had moved onto the worldly path, the path of untruth (see 5:19). The agent of restoration would save the stumbling Christian s soul from death. The restorer would quite literally save the erring believer s life. Interpretations concerning James s statement of rescue from death include: (1) winning the sinner back to Christian commitment and ultimate salvation; (2) rescuing the individual from extreme peril; (3) delivering the person from sin s effects on life, including physical death. I prefer the third interpretation: James alluded to sin s destructive effects on people, not to final condemnation. He did not mean that believers could lose their salvation. James added that the agent of restoration would cover ( hide, KJV; cover over, NIV) a multitude of sins. The Greek word rendered cover has the sense of receiving pardon. The term for sins is the one James consistently used for wrongs failing to meet God s standards. Whose sins did James have in mind? Most likely, James meant that the erring Christian s restoration would bring God s forgiveness for that person. In the background may have been Proverbs 10:12: Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses. In 1 Peter 4:8, the apostle wrote: Maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Peter and James gave the same counsel to believers: in Christian love, they were to facilitate God s forgiveness by looking past others faults. James ended his letter on a strong note. As small colonies of believers scattered across the Roman Empire and often opposed, Christians were to be attentive to one another. They were to discharge crucial responsibilities for one another. These duties included ministry to the sick, consistent prayer for one another, and loving restoration for faltering members of their congregations. They were to be engaged in active care for one another. EXPLORE FURTHER What do you consider to be your major responsibilities regarding other Christians? What makes trying to restore faltering believers to renewed commitment difficult? What attitudes are essential in such attempts? 138 Explore the Bible