The final chapter of James’ letter may be summarised as If any man appear to be religious, let that man go as far as he can and leave the rest to God. This chapter begins a section on the results of the man in 4:13-17. In ancient times in the Middle East, concepts of wealth fell into three main categories: first there was the produce of the ground, which was good produce but it rots. Then there was costly clothing which was stunning but destroyed by moths if not worn. Finally there was jewelry and precious metals which corrode and tarnish. The uncertainty of all this is reflected in such verses as Prov. 11:28 and Luke 6:24.
Who are the rich? It is someone with gold, silver, garments and grain (verses 2,3,4). It is someone who has laid up treasure (verse 3). It is someone with the means to hire others (verse 4). It is someone who is able to live ‘delicately’ (soft, indulgent lifestyle) and take his pleasure (v.5).
Do we fit any of these categories? Who were the rich in James’ letter? Christians, right!? (1;10; 2:6f; 4:13f). What was going to happen to them? Miseries were coming upon them (5:1) and their riches would be destroyed. It is still true that the poor don’t experience the pain of the loss of wealth. The stock market crash affects the rich more than the poor. Why were they going to suffer loss? They had defrauded the labourers (cf Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14,15) and lived delicately. The means of obtaining wealth is important in the sight of God, but that is not the end of the matter. The way it is used is also important in His sight. They used their wealth for the “good life” – a wanton life of self-gratification. They were like animals fattening themselves, not knowing that slaughter was coming their way (cf. Ps. 49:1ff). But we are the only creatures on earth that are aware of their coming death – we should do better.
In verse seven he returns to a theme of the first chapter – patience in the midst of trials and temptations. Christianity is not a religion that promotes passivity. We are not to take matters into our own hands when we feel we are unfairly treated, but rather pray with patience. We have a Lord (The Lord of saboath – meaning hosts, armies) who can and will take care of things in due time (Matt.28:18). Those who were oppressed had no power (v.6) to resist, but they had the Lord of Saboath. Why call Him that here? Because He can act! And God is not locked away in Heaven till the end of time wringing His hands and powerless to act. Ask Cain. Ask the people of Noah’s day. Ask the inhabitants of Sodom and Gemorrah. God visits the earth and renders judgements every day. The coming of the Lord is not always a reference to the end of time (cf. Rev. 2,3; Phil. 4:5,6).
James uses three examples of patient endurance: the farmer; the prophets; Job. How is the farmer patient? He exercises the waiting of patience. I’m going to let the sun come up in the east tomorrow morning and go down in the west tomorrow afternoon. I can’t do a thing about it. I need the early rains to plough and plant and the latter rains to finish the crop for harvest. These things are out of his control, but if the farmer can be patient, so can the Christian. Things crack under stress – including humans (Matt.24:10). In periods of frustration nerves fray, tempers flare, things get said; so he says in verse 9, Grudge not one against another. The New English Bible puts it this way: Do not blame your troubles on others, brothers. Let God be the Criticizer (Rom. 14:4). Besides, He stands before the door hearing every word and thought.
In verse 10 he holds up the prophets as examples of patience. They endured the trials and frustrations of patience, suffering unjustly at the hands of others, particularly the rich and powerful. They were abused, imprisoned, beaten, spit upon, ostracized, scourged, and yet continued to preach and do right. Preachers know that you can preach but you can’t make people understand or obey. In verse 11 he holds up Job as the third example of patience. This was the pain of patience. He suffered the loss of wealth and estate, loss of children, loss of physical health, and the rebuke of wife and friends. In all of his mental distress he maintained his integrity and faith in God. And in the end God blessed him (Job 42:10-17). A young man had been confined for so long with a diseased limb and was near to death and said to a friend, What a precious treasure this affliction has been to me; it saved me from the folly and vanity of youth; it made me cleave to God as my only portion, and the eternal glory as my only hope.
In verse 12 he says, Above all things, swear not at all. Swear, here, means to affirm or deny with an oath. (Some oaths are right and legitimate – Deut. 6:13; 1 Thess. 5:27; Matt.26:63,64; Heb. 6:13,14). James has in mind other oaths – flippant oaths whereby one swears by Heaven, or by earth or some other such oath. (“other” is is allos meaning of the same kind, as opposed to heteros which implies different types) Why does he lay stress on this? Under the stress of affliction the tongue is apt to be out of control. It is easy to give utterance to harsh words that are invectives. It’s easy to learn the habit of taking God’s name in vain. It is a difficult habit to deal with since it is almost involuntary – the words are out before you know it. Aben Ezra said, Men swear daily countless times and then swear they have not sworn! Instead of swearing what are we to do? Let yes be yes and no be no. We are not to get into the habit of “propping up” our statements with expletives, regardless of how ‘mild’ we may think them to be.
In verse 13 James affirms that life is not always easy. What should a Christian’s response be when physical and mental problems wear him down? Don’t blame God but go to God for relief. James says “pray”. But what about when the good times roll? Sing psalms. Every facet of life is to revolve around the Lord. Each response was appropriate in the acknowledging of God as the Great Deliverer and the Great Giver. What about when sick? (verses 14.15). Is that an area off-limits to God? No! If Christ is the Lord of the living and the dead, God is the God of the sick as well as of the healthy. That’s true of physical sickness and spiritual sickness. If any man appear to be religious let that man go as far as he can in maintaining health, and leave the rest to God. Use what medical facilities we have access to, but don’t forget the Lord (cf. 2 Chron. 16:12). He idealizes the situation here, rather than suggesting that every sickness will be healed (if that were true we’d never die), but wants to make it plain that our times are in His hand and it is God who heals.
What about when you are overtaken in a fault? Pray for one another (verse 16). How do we know that prayer works? (verses 17,18) Look at Elijah’s example (1 Kings 17:18-46; Luke 4:25). Was he fervent? He prayed seven times (cf. Luke 18:1).
What if I err from the truth? (verses 19,20). I need to be converted again. If I see someone err from the truth I need to do what I can to turn him back to the truth. If I am successful, a soul is saved from death and a multitude of sins are covered. This is not teaching that it is man that saves, but it is teaching that we are co-workers with God. There is something wrong with us if we do not have a desire to bring back sinners to God. So many Christians feel inadequate in this regard, but if any man appear to be religious, let him do the best he can and leave the rest to God.