The Epistle Of JamesНамуна

Wisdom and the Future: James 4:13-5:12

James' discussion of wisdom and the future can be divided into three parts. The first part is found in 4:13-17 and deals with those who were making plans for the future as if God were not in control. These verses indicate that many in James' audience were attempting to determine their own futures. They focused on accumulating wealth, and they bragged about what they would do and where they would go. In response to this, James reminded them that their lives were fleeting.

In the second part of this section, James gave attention to wisdom and the future in a slightly different way. In 5:1-6, he warned against hoarding wealth because of the future day of judgment. James spoke at great length about the treatment of the poor in many places. And he repeatedly condemned the wealthy for taking advantage of those less fortunate. In these verses, James strongly cautioned the rich who had gained wealth at the expense of the poor. And he informed them that they would soon suffer for it. As he put it in 5:3:

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 (James 5:3).

As this passage indicates, accumulating wealth at the expense of others will bring severe judgment.

The third part of James' discussion on wisdom and the future, in 5:7-12, turns to waiting patiently for God's plan for the future to unfold. James had criticized those who'd made plans without relying on God for wisdom. And he'd warned those who'd ignored God's wisdom by hoarding wealth and abusing the poor that they would see God's judgment. But following this, James encouraged those who were suffering to wait patiently for God to bring the consummation of history to pass. In 5:7 and 8 James used this analogy:

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near (James 5:7-8).

James' words in this section did more than just admonish the wealthy. They also encouraged the poor and oppressed. James' strong rebuke reminded his audience that the Day of Judgment was coming. And at that time, those who had faithfully depended on God would be rewarded. In this way, he encouraged the faithful to continue on the path of godly wisdom, living out their profession of faith, obedient to God in the light of the grand finale of God's plan for the future.

What is the danger in accumulating wealth at the expense of others?

What James basically says is something that would have been mind-blowing to many of the Jews who heard him. He basically reverses the understanding that many in Israel had about the relationship of rich and poor, and he actually calls the poor blessed and speaks about… He warns the rich to actually be ready to repent and to expect judgment… The basis for that judgment is these people are hoarding their wealth, which basically, if you've been blessed with wealth, God's will is that you would share this with your neighbor, use it to bless your neighbor, but they're hoarding it up for themselves. They're defrauding their workers by not paying them a fair wage… Wealth is a gift of God that is then to be used as God wills, not for yourself, but ultimately for your neighbor. In other words, every business should be guided by the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself." [Rev. David I. M. Lewis]