Author Archives: Phillip

Wed 8th July – Read James 5:7-9

V7-8: He calls his readers to be patient – by implication, under trials and testings – really, a focus of the whole letter. We too should be patient in trials, looking to God and to the Lord’s return and the future and eternal vindication of all His people. We are called to be “steadfast (James 1:3-4 ) under any time of testing. He uses the example of a farmer, patiently waiting for the harvest in its due season, after all God’s provision for it’s growth. We too are to be patient, waiting for the final and eternal harvest when Christ comes again. Indeed, as Christ’s
redeemed, we are that harvest – see 1 Corinthians 15:23.

V9: And we must be aware that He comes as Judge, and we too must stand before Him, so returning to an earlier theme, we must not think to judge others, or speak badly of them (James 4:11-12.) Do we stop to think how our Lord, our judge to come, regards the way we sometimes treat each other?

Tues 7th July – Read James 5:4-6

V4:Now he speaks of the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable by the rich landowners for whom they labour – a frequent theme of OT prophets, who cry out against this evil in Israel. (See Ezekiel 22:29; Jeremiah 22:13; Malachi 3:5) In many ways James’ Jewish heritage, and ministry to Jewish Christians illuminates things in this letter. Both OT and NT declare that God is mindful of those so exploited, and will vindicate them, and judge their persecutors.

V5: He speaks of lives that value only earthly things and self-indulgence. Surely, we best see such verses as a warning to us all not to get too comfortable with the things of this world and not to put our trust in them. “A day of slaughter” is probably not literal, but speaks of the vulnerability of those who are exploited by the rich and powerful. Yet God knows!

V6: The victims are called “righteous” – Biblically that can only be made right with God through faith in Christ, so James is seen to be concerned with the oppression and exploitation of believers. Are the rich oppressors, then, those outside the church who persecute Christians,
to whom he writes to encourage them that God knows? Remember Matthew 5:11 -12.

Mon 6^th July  –  Read James 5:1 -3

V1-3: James again speaks very starkly to the rich, who put their trust and confidence in earthly possessions. These things will all fail them and leave them with nothing on which they can rely for eternity. All earthly things are ultimately corruptible, and all who trust in them will be left with nothing to plead on the day of judgement. Only misery awaits them. Many NT Scriptures point this same warning – e.g. Luke 12:16-21 ; 1 Timothy 6:9-10 , 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Is James addressing believers or unbelievers here? Surely, we best see such verses as a solemn warning against relying on the material things of this world, which can so easily possess our hearts. May the prayer – and balance – of Proverbs 30:8-9 truly be ours.

Sat 4^th July  –  Read James 4:16-17

V16:  Again in stark terms, James rebukes the arrogance of boasting about our own plans and our ability to fulfil them. We might wonder if he is addressing believers in such terms – may even ask if this is a circular letter sent to a wide range of locations, how can he know this is relevant to their circumstances and spiritual conditions? But again, we need to see such verses as a warning against our frailty and proneness to sin, (remember 1 Corinthians 10:12.) and to guard against the all-too human tendency to feel ourselves to be self-sufficient, and to boast about what “we” will do.

V17:  If we know, from God’s Word, what is right, yet do not do it, we are sinning against knowledge. So much of James’ letter is really a call to the obedient walk of faith which should mark the Christian life. Remember the Lord’s own words in John 14:15.

Fri 3^rd July  –  Read James 4:13-15

V13-14:  In what seems an abrupt shift of focus – though still the underlying emphasis is a rebuke to pride and presumption – James now warns against regarding our own plans and desires for the future (” tomorrow”) as sure and certain. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Our life is such a frail and fleeting thing – like a morning mist. We cannot presume our plans will be carried out – we may not live to see ” tomorrow”, or even if we do, our plans may come to nothing for various reasons. How we are reminded of that in the current situation we are all in.

V15:  Rather, all our plans, hopes and purposes should be submitted to the will of God. Do we know this truth in living practice, or do we make plans like unbelievers, assuming they are certain to be fulfilled? Let us learn to submit everything to the perfect will of God.

Thurs 2nd July – Read James 4:11-12

V11: Again, believers are warned against ” bad-mouthing” one another – in any way. For how easily we may yield to this temptation in so many forms. This is, in effect, to say we have the right to judge others, see ourselves as superior to them. To do this is to deny or reject the real teaching of God’s Law, so to set ourselves up over it and thus ” judge” the Law itself. This is not to be a “doer” of God’s Word but a judge over it, as if we could pick and choose what to obey. Again, verses from the “Sermon on the Mount” are relevant here – Matthew 7:1-5.

V12: The only true Judge is the One who gave the Law and Whose Law it is (and see Genesis 18:25.) He alone can save – or condemn. Surely, we think here of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, one with the Father – for we are told HE will be the Judge all will face on the last day (2 Timothy 4:1.) He will receive to Himself all who are trusting in Him as Saviour, but – how solemn- will condemn (“destroy” is the word we must take seriously!) those who are not. Knowing this, how can any who profess to know Him set themselves up to judge others? – And James is clear, that we do just that when we speak ill of them.

Wed 1st July – Read James 4:7-10
V7: To submit to God is willingly to give Him the obedience of our hearts, which is His due, to seek to do His will, not our own. Equally we are to “resist the Devil” and his temptations, and if we do we are told he will “flee from us” – frustrated by our obedience to the Lord.

V8: And where we, in faith draw near to God, we are assured He will draw near to us – here is the intimacy of the relationship which grace makes ours in Christ. (See John 17:22-23.) – but for this, our hearts and hands ( i.e. our desires and deeds ) must be made clean (see Psalm 24:3-4.) but though James calls us to this, we must always remember that only in and through Christ and His shed blood are we made clean (see 1 John 1:7-9) Again he warns against “double-mindedness” – a divided heart cannot know the joy of this intimacy with God.

V9: He calls on them (and us) to recognise their sin, and be “spiritual mourners”, as in Matthew 5:4, where we have the promise that those who do so mourn will know God’s comfort. May we truly know such comfort, as we remain mindful of, and truly sorry for our sin.

V10: Those who humble themselves before God in this way will be lifted up – and ultimately know the wonder of the fullness of salvation, sharing in His glory for all eternity – all, and only, by His grace.