James: More GraceSample

How can broken relationships be restored?

James’ readers have been an ‘adulterous people’ (4:4), but spiritual adultery is not new. God’s people were in a similar state long ago in the days of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Back then, God sent a time of suffering, a drought, to discipline his disobedient people and bring them back to himself in repentance (see 1 Kgs. 17–18). God used Elijah’s prayers to move these plans forward in remarkable ways – withholding rain for three years and then ending the drought when the people repented (vv. 17–18).

Among James’ readers too there seem to be signs of the Lord’s discipline on his adulterous people. In their case though, this discipline seems to be taking the form of sickness. But God will always forgive sinners who repent and then the disciplining judgment on them will end. There is always a way back, as we have seen (5:14–15).

• So what does James call on everyone in this church to do and why (v. 16)?

These believers have clearly been treating each other badly. Now James wants them to admit that to one another and say sorry. These Christians don’t just need to humble themselves before the Lord; they need to humble themselves before one another too. They need to stop grumbling against one another and start praying for each other.

Is there really a way back from such damaged relationships, with God and with others? James wants to reassure his readers that there is. God will answer their prayers, just as he did Elijah’s. And where sickness has been a sign of God’s discipline, God will take it away, just as he took away the discipline of the drought back then.

• How does James encourage these Christians to pray (vv. 16–18)?

When you are in a right relationship with God (‘righteous’), you will begin to pray in line with God’s purposes, rather than, for example, just asking for more money to spend on your pleasures (4:3). The prayer of such a righteous person really does change things. Elijah himself was not powerful – he was a human being like everyone else – but through Elijah’s prayers God did extraordinary things and restored the people of God. God can do the same for this disobedient church; they just need to ask him.

Perhaps you can think of a relationship with someone in your church family that is in a bad state. Go and admit your fault, ask for their forgiveness and start to pray for them. Call on God for help. Prayer is powerful and effective. 

Pray

Pray for those in your own church family, especially for anyone you have fallen out with, and thank God that the 'prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective' (v. 16).