November 20, 2011
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If it is the Lord's Will James 9 (4:13-5:12)
A. Doing what is right
1) We don't know what will happen to our lives tomorrow (4:13-15; Luke 12:13-21)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (4:13-15)
2) If we are preoccupied by gaining wealth, we won't have time to do what is good and right (4:16,17)
As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (4:16,17)
B. How to wait for the Lord's Day
1) Act justly (5:1-6)
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. (5:1-6)
2) Wait patiently (5:7-11)
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (5:7-11)
3) Fulfill responsibilities (5:12, Matthew 5:33-37)
Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. (5:12)
Summary
None of us know when our lives will come to an end, and yet so many of us live our lives as though we are in control of whether we live or die. We are so easily obsessed by gaining earthly riches including money, status, honor, and even relationships. It is a good thing to have goals and ambitions, but unless we desire to live according to God's will, those things will drive us to excessive pride when things go well and despair when troubles come. We end up wasting the time that we should be spending on doing what is right. This makes us lose sight of the three key aspects of waiting for the Lord's Day: doing what is just, waiting patiently, and fulfilling our responsibilities.
For Discussion
1) What do you think of when you hear: "If it is the Lord's will"?
2) Is all swearing (even in court, for example) wrong?