Study in the Book of James – Part 8
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Our last lesson looked at our hearts. James warned the church against worldliness and told us to resist the devil. What things stood out to you in that lesson?
What Are You Boasting About?
This lesson begins by closing out Chapter 4. Here we read:
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James begins this section by pointing out those who are making plans for the future. What do you think is the problem with doing this?
Do you think James is saying it is wrong to make plans for the future?
Look at this portion of the verse: “we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit…” What group of people do you think James is talking to?
If you look at the beginning of this passage, it is clear that James is not talking to the average person. He is talking to those who have lots of money, and the majority of what we will study in this lesson will be focused on the rich.
You may not be rich and wonder why it is important for you to learn about how you should live when you are likely not going to be in that situation. So, why is it important to us?
Verse 15 tells us that we should approach our futures by saying, “If the Lord wills…” Why is it wrong to be proclaiming what you think you are going to do, instead of adding these words?
What do you think this says about the way we think when we do not include God in our plans?
If we acknowledge God’s will in our circumstances, what do you think it says about how we view God’s control of the world?
James makes it clear that nothing is occurring outside of God’s will. We can, in our own arrogance, think that we are determining all that is happening in our lives. However, James is saying that nothing happens beyond the will of God.
The final verse in this chapter reads: “17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
This seems like a very serious warning. How would you explain what James is saying?
There are many opportunities in life where we know to do the correct thing but do not. You have learned about what it means to sin. How does this definition (missing the mark) relate to what James is saying here?
In Luke 12:47-48, Jesus explains:
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
In John 9:41, Jesus added: “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”
What do you think these verses teach us about the importance of taking action when you know what is the right thing to do?
It is interesting that James adds this verse right after talking about a person who is believing in his or her own sovereignty and not the sovereignty of God. How do you think these verses relate to one another?
Warnings for the Rich
James continues his evaluation of the rich in James 5:1-6. Here we read:
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
What does James reveal about the rich?
Do you think that James is speaking about all rich people here?
The attitude of the rich is something that is discussed quite often in the Bible. Read Proverbs 11:28, 1 Timothy 6:9, and Luke 6:24-26.
These verses give a clearer view of what God’s attitude is towards those who have a lot of wealth. His frustration with the rich is not based upon their wealth but on their attitude or reliance on their wealth.
Return back to James 5:3-6. What does James tell us the rich have done to those who are poor?
God makes it clear in several places that these kinds of actions are not permissible. Let’s look at some of these.
In verse 4, James points out that the rich have held the wages from the laborers. Read Leviticus 19:13 and explain why this behavior was wrong.
In verse 5, James talks about how the rich have lived in luxury and self-indulgence. Before continuing, consider what it means to be living in “luxury,” or to be “self-indulgent.” Now, why does James see this as a problem?
Continuing in that verse, what do you think it means when he says that they have “fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter?”
In verse 6, James explains how they have condemned and murdered the righteous person and that He does not resist you. Who was condemned and murdered and did not resist?
This is a specific reference to Jesus and adds a great deal of context to who James is talking about. While there is a great deal of concern about the attitudes of the rich toward the poor, James is also speaking directly to those who sought to kill Jesus. It was not the common man who wanted Jesus murdered. Instead, it was the rich who saw Jesus as a threat who sought His death, rallying others against Him.
Your Attitude toward the “Poor”
Do you consider yourself rich or powerful?
The truth is that all of us hold some type of power over others. Maybe you are the leader of a group or a work crew. Maybe you have been at this program longer than others and feel that you have a certain “authority” because of the length of time you have been at Hope CDA.
Can you see the power you hold or exercise over others?
You may also believe that you are not rich. You are not making a significant amount of money and may feel that you have no real wealth. However, consider that every person in America makes more money than 99% of the rest of the people on the planet. In the world’s standards, you are rich!
Consider the things that you have. The possessions, bank account, or clothes. Do you look down on others who do not have these kinds of things?
Do you find yourself mocking or criticizing people from other countries who live in poverty?
Consider that the Bible is never attacking the wealth of the person. Instead, what the Bible reveals is our heart or attitude related to money and wealth.
1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” This verse is often misquoted. It is often explained that money and wealth are at the root of evil. However, God reveals to us that it is our attitude toward wealth that leads to evil thoughts and evil actions.
Ask yourself honestly, how do you view your wealth?
You began this block of classes with a lesson on coveting. While James does not specifically caution against desiring the wealth and possessions of others, we have learned that coveting corrupts your heart. Can you explain how coveting does this?
Return back to James 5:2-3. What does he tell us will happen to our wealth and possessions?
Jesus reaffirms this idea in Matthew 6:19-21:
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
He tells us that we should store our treasures in heaven. We often understand earthly treasure: money, jewelry, vehicles, houses, land, etc. However, what do you think are examples of heavenly treasure?
This is a question we don’t often ask ourselves. We know we are supposed to be building up our treasure in heaven, but do not really consider what that treasure looks like. Now that you have developed a few ideas, how are you building up your treasure in heaven?
What do you believe is the most important lesson James is teaching from these passages?
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