Title: James 5 "Hear, you rich people"
Contents
James 5 "Hear, you rich people"
The book of James is a 'common epistle' sent to various churches and is a letter of exhortation about the lives of the saints. Chapter 4 contains exhortations on wealth, perseverance, and suffering (disease).
1 “Weep and weep, you rich” (1-6)
One of the problems that people face is the problem of wealth. Everyone wants to be rich. Isaac said, “It was rejected because the Lord blessed it” (Gen. 26:12, 13). However, the New Testament consistently warned against wealth and praised poverty. Wealth itself is not a sin, but all the misfortunes and tragedies of man are based on wanting to get rich. Blessed are the people who acquire wealth in a just way and can use it rightly (either in heaven or by distributing it to the poor), but in most cases this is not the case. It is often used for self or family or for luxury or communication.
Jesus referred to the rich man who laid up wealth for himself as “a fool” (Luke 12:20) and said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). He said, “Blessed are the poor” (Luke 6:20). And he himself became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9). Paul also warned the rich, “Do not love money” and “Do not put your hope in riches” (1 Timothy 6:10,17). James also points out the futility of wealth here and warns of the judgment that will come upon the rich who lust for it. Wealth is rotting, moth eating, rusting, and flesh eating. He pointed out that greedy for wealth and accumulating wealth is wrong in itself, and God's judgment will come especially on those who accumulate wealth in an unjust way (in a stingy way without paying the wages properly). Even now, weep and weep for the sin of coveting wealth and use it properly.
2 "Therefore, brethren, be patient until the coming of the Lord" (7-12)
One of a person's weaknesses is tolerability. When things don't go their way right away, people can't stand it and get angry. complaining or frustrated. Babies, adults, and the elderly alike. Job should have been angry and complaining, as did Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and all three of his friends. But they were not. James tells us not to focus our eyes and attention on the present reality, but on tomorrow or the end. He told them to be patient until the coming of the Lord. Your coming is near. Do not blame God and do not blame your brothers. Take the sufferings and perseverance of the prophets as an example, especially the perseverance of Job. The mercy and mercy of the Lord come to those who endure. Gospel hymn “The mercy of the Lord comes down.” Don't be discouraged or bet on tomorrow. Tomorrow only the Lord knows. If it is the will of the Lord, we live and do this and that. Blessed are those who endure (James 1:12, 1 Peter 2:20).
3 "Is any of you suffering?" (13-)