Episode 162 - "Don't use your privilege to oppress others!" - James 5:1-6

James 5:1   Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

It has dawned on me that careful reading and interpretation of this letter is a good exercise in the process of hermeneutics. That’s just a fancy word for the process of interpretation. Why is it that this letter is such a good exercise in the process of interpreting Scripture and literature in general? Because James says things in ways that, if we take them very literally and define the boundaries of meaning from our own culture and perception with little consideration of other factors, we could easily misinterpret the intended meaning.

For example, could we not interpret the first three verses of this section to say that rich people are evil or that it’s wrong to have wealth? But, then we have a problem when we think about people we’ve known or been familiar with who are financially successful and are wonderful people of faith. How do we reconcile that conflict? I would suggest that we make a habit of returning to the text and reading more broadly through the work of literature and see if there are clues from the context.

James begins by saying the rich will “weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you (deservedly).” (v. 1) He continues by stating matter-of-factly that these items of earthly value have corroded, and they will testify against them (implied as evidence of judgment as if these items could speak) and will eat their flesh. Already we should recognize a problem with such an absolute, literal interpretation. These are inanimate objects. They cannot speak or eat. For that matter, they even tend not to corrode so quickly. Yet, James speaks as though it’s already happened. But, then there’s the question, what is so wrong with gold and silver that James speaks of it in such a way, and how or why does it speak judgment against its owner? The context helps us interpret what James is really after.

The end of verse 3 says (of the rich), “You have laid up treasures in the last days.” (v.3b) This is not so bad in and of itself. In Proverbs 6:6-8 we find the wise teacher speaking against those who are lazy and don’t want to work and speaks of the ant that stores up for the winter when it cannot find food. There is wisdom in planning for times when provision may be lean. But that’s not what is happening here. James continues in verse 4 that these rich people have been defrauding, not paying, their less fortunate employees. Now we’re getting to the root of the problem.

Did you notice that both groups of people are crying, both the rich oppressors and the defrauded workers? But, the rich oppressors will be crying because of the judgment that will justly come upon them. The defrauded workers are crying to the Lord out of their need and the injustice. Guess who the Lord hears? Verse 4 says it’s the latter group's cry that reaches the ears of the Lord.

James continues his indictment of the wealthy oppressor in verse 5 when he speaks of his self-indulgence. Then in verse 6, James says the rich oppressor has “condemned and murdered the righteous person.” 

Clearly, the issue James is addressing is not how much money one makes. The issue is whether you use what the Lord has blessed you with for righteous and just purposes. If the Lord has blessed us with more than what we need, then we ought to use that abundance to help others with their needs. 

All the way back in Genesis 12:1-3, we see this principle in the Lord’s call of Abram. The Lord promised to bless Abram and that he would be a blessing to others. So, this principle becomes more evident as we read the context in which this indictment is set, but it also is consistent with what is revealed outside of this letter but within the scope of God’s revelation through time. 

Our God is consistent, and he consistently desires that we act justly toward others. The Lord desires to bless us. We must pass on the blessing to others to the measure we are able to according to those blessings.

Prayer: Lord, help me be a blessing to others to the ability that you have made possible.

Episode 145 - "Glory in your cirumstances" - James 1:9-11

James 1:9   Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Is it just me or does it seem like James has totally changed the subject? He started out by talking about trials, testing of faith, God’s plan to make us complete, asking for wisdom in faith, and not being double-minded. But, in verse 9 it would appear that he encourages the poor and the rich to “boast.” It certainly looks like he has changed his topic. But, if you take a look at verse 12, you’ll notice he is back on the topic of trials in one’s life. My point is to argue that we need to let the context of this letter dictate how we should interpret this Scripture. If James is speaking about trials in verse 2 and again in verse 12, it seems unlikely that he is thinking of something completely different in verses 9-11. So, what’s going on?

Let me begin by saying that I believe James is writing to Christians; both poor and rich. James specifically calls the “lowly” a “brother.” (v. 9) The words translated “lowly” and “rich” are both adjectives in the same gender, number, and case of the noun “brother.” It seems to me that James is talking to those he assumes are Christians. It’s important to note that he’s not passing judgment on the lowly or the rich. He is giving both groups of people instruction for wise living.

James tells the “lowly brother” to “boast in his exaltation.” On the surface that may seem to be contrary to the Scriptures that condemn arrogance, pride, and boasting. In fact, later in this letter, James will paraphrase Proverbs 3:34 which says, “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.” (See James 4:6 ESV) Is James schizophrenic? Is he just forgetful or inconsistent in his theology? I don’t think so. Here’s what I think is going on.

The “lowly” or poor brother (or sister in Christ) will experience trials by virtue of his or her limited resources. The word that is translated as “boast” could also mean “glory.” So, interpreting this text in light of James' instruction to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”(v. 2) means (in my opinion) that the trials associated with limited financial resources should be understood by the lowly brother as an opportunity that God will use it to strengthen his faith and conform him into the complete follower of Jesus. In a unique kind of way, God values this lowly (poor) person and is using these trials to exalt him or her in God’s estimation. This perspective might run directly against a perceptive that a poor or lowly person has been cursed or made low by God as evidenced by the lack of material resources. But, this is not true James tells us. Therefore, the lowly person should “glory” in what God is doing in their life through these trials. This is not arrogance. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s an acknowledgment and acceptance that God is sovereign and is seeking to work good in our life through this kind of trial.

Conversely, the rich brother has trials of his own. How often do we think that having more money will solve our problems? But, that itself is a lie. Money may buy more comforts in life. But, it doesn’t prevent us from trials. James offers the illustration of the flower. It grows into a beautiful and glorious plant. But, the heat (trial) causes that glory to quickly fade. This is the case with all of our human efforts. They are only good for a short time. I think James is suggesting that the rich man who relies upon his wealth and human efforts is prone to be a double-minded person, one that can’t decide whether he wants to trust God or himself. James is telling this person to glory in the kinds of trials that come with having financial means. A modern example is when there is a decline in the stock market and one’s investments have now lost their value. James would say to that person, glory in the trial of that loss because God is going to use it for something great in your life if you will let Him.

In speaking to the lowly and rich persons alike, James is communicating that we cannot escape trials through our efforts and we should not assume that God favors one person over the next due to their financial and social status. Rather, God wants to use whatever difficult circumstances in our lives to make us complete according to His standard and not that of society. 

Prayer: Lord, help me give you thanks for all things and trust that you are using the various trials to help me see your love for me or my need for humility.