James 5 - Lessons for Rich Oppressors, Patience in Suffering, and Keeping the Letter of James AliveSample

Keeping Company With God

James begins with a word for those ‘in trouble’. James is not referring here to any minor inconvenience. The word ‘suffering’ is the same term translated ‘suffering‘ in verse 10. James is talking about hardship, be it poverty, persecution, bereavement, betrayal or the like.

When faced with such hardship, the godly person should pray. This does not necessarily mean we are to petition God for deliverance from trouble. James uses the general word for prayer rather than a specific one like plea or request. As appropriate as asking God for deliverance might be, the main point is that troubled believers ought to approach God in whatever way is appropriate. Remember, the book of Psalms - the prayer book of ancient Israel - has almost as many laments as it does straightforward petitions. Both can be expressions of devotion to the Lord, and sometimes the former is the only type of prayer a sufferer feels able to utter: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning” (Psalm 22:1).

Singing Songs for God

James then turns to the person full of joy. Just as the pains of life should turn us to prayer, so should life’s joys. When things are going well, we must not forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). We must respond with praise. 

The expression “sing songs of praise” means to declare thankfulness to God, usually by way of a song appropriate to the occasion. The book of Psalms contains many such songs but countless others had been composed (by Jews and Christians) by the time James penned these words.

Interestingly, although ‘praise’ is usually a group activity, here the exhortation is directed to the individual: “let him sing songs of praise.” Paul also envisaged something like this: “When you come together, each one has a hymn …” (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Dulling the Pain

Some religions - Buddhism, for example - insist that our experience of pain can be overcome by negating our desire for the things of this world. The third of the "Buddha’s Four Noble Truths," states exactly that. The pain of poverty, for instance, is overcome by removing our desire for wealth and comfort. Live with detachment toward the self and toward the world, and suffering will evaporate. That’s the Buddhist approach.

There are secular strategies for dulling the pain as well. This usually involves the pursuit of momentary pleasures or increased wealth. The expression ‘retail therapy’ was coined with this in mind. 

But Christians avoid these extremes. They neither detach from God’s world, nor crave its fleeting pleasures. Instead, believers pray. We bring the reality of our troubles directly and honestly to our Father. We seek his comfort. Believers who avoid approaching God in their pain are short-changing themselves.