“Prophet or Puppet”

James 5:10 KJV [10] “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”     The prophets of old are heroes to all of us. We love to hear the Old Testament stories of how the Lord called and used them. Their messages were bold and straightforward. Their visions and miracles left us in awe of the mighty power of God working through ordinary men. No matter how impressed we may be, we must not forget their suffering. The prophets faced great affliction for the message they delivered. …

“The Judge Standeth at the Door”

James 5:9 KJV  [9] “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”      I have never understood the purpose behind holding a grudge. I am not saying I am above committing this sin, but it makes no sense to spend our days in bitterness toward another person. It is sad when two brothers in Christ are at odds with each other. We should not allow ourselves to become bitter because of the way others treat us. I would be foolish to think I could live in this world any length of …

“We are Getting Closer”

James 5:8 KJV  [8] “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”      This verse opens with James reminding us to be still. Don’t get in a hurry, don’t try to get ahead, or worry about the outcomes of life. Just be patient and wait on God. Trust Him even though you may not be able to see or understand what is going on.      Secondly, he reminds us to be strong. We are to establish our hearts. We need strong Christians in this world today, because society is as unstable as water. …

“Wait for the Rain”

James 5:7 KJV  [7] “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”      The early believers had to live their lives amid difficult circumstances. They faced severe persecution for their faith in Christ. Because their outlook was so dark, James encouraged them with an up look. He reminded them that a better day was coming for the child of God.      The admonishment in this text is to be patient. It is a …

“The Death of the Righteous”

James 5:6 KJV [6] “Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.”     We read in the Scriptures that evil, rich men have killed the righteous. Those righteous heroes of the faith died willingly without any resistance. Think of our Savior who willingly gave His life into the hands of sinful man. Organized religion, money, and power are what motivated men to crucify the most righteous man that ever lived. We know this was all a part of God’s plan, but every man involved made a conscience decision in the matter.      I think about …

“The Price of Pleasure”

James 5:5 KJV [5] “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.”      The men in our text have lived in pleasure on this earth. They have enjoyed the luxuries of life by mistreating others. They have nourished their hearts while others have suffered and lived in want. Our verse states that their lives of ease have left them wanting and brought them to judgment. They are like animals feasting their way to the slaughterhouse. They live every day as if they will live forever and …

“The Lord of Sabaoth”

James 5:4 KJV [4] “Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”      This title for God is used only here and in Romans 9:29. It is used many times in the Old Testament as the “Lord of Hosts” and is primarily a military term. The Lord is going to return in judgment with His armies one day. He has heard the cries of the mistreated, seen every dirty …

“The Witness of Wealth”

James 5:3 KJV  [3] “Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”     If your wealth had a voice, what would it say? How would it testify on your behalf? Would it testify for you or against you? Now, you might think you are not a wealthy person, and you are barely getting by from day to day, but dear reader, if you compare your possessions to what others have, you will find …

“Rusty Gold and Tattered Garments”

 James 5:2 KJV [2] “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.”      God will not bless someone who tries to gain wealth at the expense of others. Greed has destroyed a lot of men in this world. Some men have gone so far as to sell their souls to the Devil to get rich. Gold fever has brought death and destruction to many good men.          Wealth in itself is not sinful. However, when someone tries to obtain wealth by robbing others, that is a sin. Crooked politicians do it daily in our country. They pass laws to …

“The Tears of Rich Men”

James 5:1 KJV  [1] “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.”       James is not condemning men for being rich. There have been a lot of rich men used in the work of God. Riches in themselves are not sinful, but men allow riches to corrupt them. Being wealthy can cause men to feel self-sufficient. It can also build pride in a man’s heart and make him feel as if he is better than others. Riches can also cause men to be cruel to others, as we have seen in …