James: More GraceSample

Being a believer has always been challenging, but the right response to suffering has always been same too. James now encourages his Christian readers by pointing them to the example of some notable faithful believers who have gone before them.

The Old Testament prophets spoke in the name of the Lord and suffered as a result, yet they didn’t give up. They patiently persevered, just as James wants his readers to do.

• At the time of their suffering these prophets probably seemed abandoned by God, but how do James and his readers see them now (v. 11)?

James is reminding his friends of what they already know. Looking back on these prophets, believers now count these faithful ones as ‘blessed’, for as James has already said, ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial’ (1:12).

James then points his readers to another faithful Old Testament believer – Job. They know about Job too. They have heard of Job’s perseverance in his suffering and seen in the scriptures what the Lord finally brought about for him.

At the end of all Job’s sufferings, God showered blessings on him. That was a picture of how God will bless all his faithful people in the end. For despite some appearances to the contrary now, God does care a great deal about his people. He is full of compassion and mercy (v. 11).

James ends both of his sections about patient perseverance (5:7–9 and 5:10–12) with warnings about speech. The issue this time is not grumbling, but swearing. This swearing was a way of underlining that a particular statement was really true by adding the extra line, ‘I swear by …’ James says that Christians must not speak like this.

• What should these believers say instead (v. 12)?

The word of a Christian should need no extra tags added on to guarantee that it is trustworthy. The truth of what we say should never be in any kind of doubt! Just a simple yes or no is all that should be needed.

Grumbling reveals a judgmental, unforgiving heart. Swearing like this is a sign of double-mindedness. Such speech implies a split in our hearts, so that some of our words are trustworthy but others are not.

Don’t grumble against one another or ‘you will be judged’ (5:9). Don’t swear or ‘you will be condemned’ (v. 12). These are very serious warnings. Present  sufferings  are  no  excuse for sinful speech. James is warning his readers not to stray away again from humble, single-hearted obedience to God. Remember, ‘The Judge is standing at the door!’ (v. 9).

Pray

Thank God that he is full of compassion and mercy, and that he promises to bless believers who persevere faithfully even through suffering.