James 5:19-20
There are no repeated words or lists in this passage. The key words are wander, save and cover over. The main point is that we, as the family of God, need to be looking out for one another. I wonder if James had the words of Cain in mind when he wrote this passage: "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer through the rest of Scripture, especially under the New Covenant, is yes!
I've seen, over the past few years, that followers of Jesus are becoming increasingly aware of the role of community. I do not travel this path alone - of course, Jesus, through his Spirit, travels with me but that's not all. I am part of a band of travellers, a fellowship and I don't just succeed in my quest by getting to heaven but we succeed when we all get there together. Formerly, following Jesus was individually based - it was my personal relationship with Christ that mattered ("though none go with me, still I will follow").
James' words remind me of the team development activities I did at camp. There was a goal that had to be accomplished but if team members were run over, hurt or ignored in the process, the task was not successful. James is reminding me that I have a huge responsibility to my brother and sister. If none are going with me, my mandate is to turn back and help them find the path again, not to just forge on without them.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
in the words of MC hammer
James 5:13-18
The key word in this passage is "pray". It's repeated many times throughout the passage. In almost a repetitive list, James says that the solution to being in trouble, happy or sick is to pray. As an illustration of the power of prayer, James points to Elijah who prayed to make the rain stop and then prayed again to re-start the rain. James' main point is that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is an extremely timely passage in light of the events at LCI. The response to this is to pray. Yes, the school and police need to take actions but ultimately God's plan is more powerful than the threateners plan and God's ability to keep our students safe is way greater than the school's ability.
Even beyond that, my first response needs to be prayer. I am wired to start putting strategy in place but I need to pause before that kicks in and just pray: to ask God for help, to praise him for his goodness, etc. So, let's pray.
The key word in this passage is "pray". It's repeated many times throughout the passage. In almost a repetitive list, James says that the solution to being in trouble, happy or sick is to pray. As an illustration of the power of prayer, James points to Elijah who prayed to make the rain stop and then prayed again to re-start the rain. James' main point is that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is an extremely timely passage in light of the events at LCI. The response to this is to pray. Yes, the school and police need to take actions but ultimately God's plan is more powerful than the threateners plan and God's ability to keep our students safe is way greater than the school's ability.
Even beyond that, my first response needs to be prayer. I am wired to start putting strategy in place but I need to pause before that kicks in and just pray: to ask God for help, to praise him for his goodness, etc. So, let's pray.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Just be patient...
James 5:7-12
I remember when I was younger and all those speakers would pull out their charts and talk about how soon Jesus was going to come back. They wouldn't specifically state a time but they were pretty sure it was going to be right away. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore. It's been a long time since I've been filled with wonder at the idea that Jesus could come back today. I wonder what happened to all those guys and their charts?
Maybe people got tired of waiting. Maybe the reason that I haven't been stopped short is because all those times I was, Jesus didn't come back. James tells his readers to be patient. He uses a very vivid word picture of a farmer waiting for the harvest. I think this word picture is very appropriate: the farmer doesn't just wait idly for the harvest - he works the soil, maybe even irrigates, fertilizes and weeds but all his efforts don't hurry the harvest. The harvest will arrive in the proper time. As we wait for Jesus and the coming kingdom, we don't sit idly by. We work hard but all our work will not hasten Jesus' return. Jesus will come in the proper time.
James compares our waiting for Jesus with the prophets' waiting for the fulfillment of prophecy. I wonder what they were thinking after they made their bold predictions and faithfully spoke the words that God had given them. I wonder if they were ridiculed when their words didn't prove true right away. I wonder if they argued with God and questioned him. I wonder if they felt like fools. James says that we regard those prophets with honour because they persevered i the face of delayed fulfillment and in the face of persecution. James calls us to be as patient as the prophets.
He also uses Job as an example which is kind of weird to me. Job isn't someone that I would immediately describe as patient. He complained bitterly. He questioned God and demanded that he come and defend himself. He did not exhibit the characteristics of a patient person and yet James calls him patient because he did not abandon his faith in the midst of severe pain. James is calling me to do the same. Don't give up. Don't let the circumstances of life dictate what I will believe. Don't let Jesus' "delay" cause me to stumble. Yes, I should be longing for and looking for the return of my King but in the mean time I must continue to patiently work. The harvest will come in its proper time.
I remember when I was younger and all those speakers would pull out their charts and talk about how soon Jesus was going to come back. They wouldn't specifically state a time but they were pretty sure it was going to be right away. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore. It's been a long time since I've been filled with wonder at the idea that Jesus could come back today. I wonder what happened to all those guys and their charts?
Maybe people got tired of waiting. Maybe the reason that I haven't been stopped short is because all those times I was, Jesus didn't come back. James tells his readers to be patient. He uses a very vivid word picture of a farmer waiting for the harvest. I think this word picture is very appropriate: the farmer doesn't just wait idly for the harvest - he works the soil, maybe even irrigates, fertilizes and weeds but all his efforts don't hurry the harvest. The harvest will arrive in the proper time. As we wait for Jesus and the coming kingdom, we don't sit idly by. We work hard but all our work will not hasten Jesus' return. Jesus will come in the proper time.
James compares our waiting for Jesus with the prophets' waiting for the fulfillment of prophecy. I wonder what they were thinking after they made their bold predictions and faithfully spoke the words that God had given them. I wonder if they were ridiculed when their words didn't prove true right away. I wonder if they argued with God and questioned him. I wonder if they felt like fools. James says that we regard those prophets with honour because they persevered i the face of delayed fulfillment and in the face of persecution. James calls us to be as patient as the prophets.
He also uses Job as an example which is kind of weird to me. Job isn't someone that I would immediately describe as patient. He complained bitterly. He questioned God and demanded that he come and defend himself. He did not exhibit the characteristics of a patient person and yet James calls him patient because he did not abandon his faith in the midst of severe pain. James is calling me to do the same. Don't give up. Don't let the circumstances of life dictate what I will believe. Don't let Jesus' "delay" cause me to stumble. Yes, I should be longing for and looking for the return of my King but in the mean time I must continue to patiently work. The harvest will come in its proper time.
Friday, November 16, 2007
the best laid plans...
James 4:13-17
The key words or ideas are: boasting, planning, uncertainty of the future. James is admonishing people for the sheer arrogance of making brash plans. Since God is in control and since God is their king, their plans are subject (or should be, anyways) to the will of God. James compares making such plans to boasting: the underlying message is that I control my own destiny and that I run my life. James reminds the reader that God runs his life and controls her destiny. He makes a strong statement that to live or think otherwise is evil and sinful.
I am not sure how the last line connects to the rest of the paragraph. There is a connecting phrase: "so then" but I don't see how it logically follows. As a stand alone proverb, it is very powerful: when we don't do what we know to be good, we sin.
I stand condemned under James' indictment. Rather than clearing everything through my King, I make my own plans and then ask him for his blessing. Rather than saying, "What would like me to do?" or "Is this what you'd like me to do?" I demand that he bless the plans that I have made. This is sheer arrogance because it places me in the position of King or Master rather than acknowledging that God is my King and submitting to him. I serve at the pleasure of the King. May I never forget that.
The key words or ideas are: boasting, planning, uncertainty of the future. James is admonishing people for the sheer arrogance of making brash plans. Since God is in control and since God is their king, their plans are subject (or should be, anyways) to the will of God. James compares making such plans to boasting: the underlying message is that I control my own destiny and that I run my life. James reminds the reader that God runs his life and controls her destiny. He makes a strong statement that to live or think otherwise is evil and sinful.
I am not sure how the last line connects to the rest of the paragraph. There is a connecting phrase: "so then" but I don't see how it logically follows. As a stand alone proverb, it is very powerful: when we don't do what we know to be good, we sin.
I stand condemned under James' indictment. Rather than clearing everything through my King, I make my own plans and then ask him for his blessing. Rather than saying, "What would like me to do?" or "Is this what you'd like me to do?" I demand that he bless the plans that I have made. This is sheer arrogance because it places me in the position of King or Master rather than acknowledging that God is my King and submitting to him. I serve at the pleasure of the King. May I never forget that.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
above the law?
James 4:11-12
The key words are: judge/judgment (if you stare at those words long enough, they look really strange!) and slander/speak against. James says that if you slander your brother or sister, it indicates that the law "Love your neighbour as yourself" does not apply to you and that you are somehow above the law or are indicating that the law is invalid. James reminds the reader that there is only One who has that kind of authority.
God is not subject to the laws he gives us. While the law is a reflection of his character and personality, God is only "subject" to himself. He only answers to himself. I am subject to the laws that God gives me. I am a judgmental person. When I judge others, I am not only looking down on them (as if I have a position higher than they), I am looking down on the law (as if the law answers to me rather than me answering to the law).
Some people are quick to quote the verse "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (I love how that verse is always quoted in the KJV) but this does not mean that we, as followers of Jesus, should not point out sin in other people's lives. It does mean that we should do it out of love, recognizing that we are no better than they are and not above them in any way.
The key words are: judge/judgment (if you stare at those words long enough, they look really strange!) and slander/speak against. James says that if you slander your brother or sister, it indicates that the law "Love your neighbour as yourself" does not apply to you and that you are somehow above the law or are indicating that the law is invalid. James reminds the reader that there is only One who has that kind of authority.
God is not subject to the laws he gives us. While the law is a reflection of his character and personality, God is only "subject" to himself. He only answers to himself. I am subject to the laws that God gives me. I am a judgmental person. When I judge others, I am not only looking down on them (as if I have a position higher than they), I am looking down on the law (as if the law answers to me rather than me answering to the law).
Some people are quick to quote the verse "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (I love how that verse is always quoted in the KJV) but this does not mean that we, as followers of Jesus, should not point out sin in other people's lives. It does mean that we should do it out of love, recognizing that we are no better than they are and not above them in any way.
Monday, November 12, 2007
either/or not both/and
James 4:4-10
The key words are: friend, enemy, proud, humble. James says that friendship with the world means that you are God's enemy. He also contrasts God's treatment of the proud with his treatment of the humble. He then calls the reader to submit to God, even though the word picture is more of sorrowful repentance (which makes sense, since repenting from pride means that you will humble yourself).
The key for me is this: I can't have a foot on both paths, I can't be friends with both the world and with God. The paths are headed in opposite directions and the world is directly opposed to God. The world is all about raising yourself up, getting ahead, looking out for yourself (and seeing yourself as #1). God is all about raising himself up, making him famous and looking out for the real #1. The world is all about living for the moment, carpe diem. God is all about living for eternity, seizing the future. The world is all about play now, pay later. God is more about pay now, play later. As Joshua said, "Choose you this day whom you will serve..." I can't have it both ways.
The key words are: friend, enemy, proud, humble. James says that friendship with the world means that you are God's enemy. He also contrasts God's treatment of the proud with his treatment of the humble. He then calls the reader to submit to God, even though the word picture is more of sorrowful repentance (which makes sense, since repenting from pride means that you will humble yourself).
The key for me is this: I can't have a foot on both paths, I can't be friends with both the world and with God. The paths are headed in opposite directions and the world is directly opposed to God. The world is all about raising yourself up, getting ahead, looking out for yourself (and seeing yourself as #1). God is all about raising himself up, making him famous and looking out for the real #1. The world is all about living for the moment, carpe diem. God is all about living for eternity, seizing the future. The world is all about play now, pay later. God is more about pay now, play later. As Joshua said, "Choose you this day whom you will serve..." I can't have it both ways.
Friday, November 9, 2007
"it's all about me..."
James 4:1-3
The key words are fight, quarrel and battle. The language in this section leaves the feeling of turmoil and unsettledness. James lays out a logical progression: you don't have because you don't ask. When you do ask, you don't receive because your motives are wrong.
So much of what drives me is envy and coveting. Just last night, watching tv, a commercial for the ipod touch came on. Wow! The first words out of my mouth were, "I want!" And who wouldn't? That is a sleek little piece of machinery. The truth is a) I don't need it - I actually hate the whole ipod craze. Take those ear buds out and enjoy your surroundings! Learn to endure a little silence. It's good for the soul! But I'm conflicted because some how the ipod has become the standard of cool - the cooler your ipod, the cooler you are and woe to those who don't have an ipod - and I desperately want to be cool! I am envious of those who have. There is another truth: b) I can't afford a touch. It would be the epitome of materialism, of gluttony, of irresponsibility for me to get one. I would have to take money out of something much more necessary like electricity or food.
The problem is that my desire has been awakened and while I might not physically kill I know that I have had to put people down out loud or in my mind to make myself feel better about not having what they do. The other problem would be if I started asking God for an ipod touch. That would definitely be asking with wrong motives - there is no way that I would (or even could?) use it to glorify God; my reason for having one is to glorify myself. The problem is that I have asked for so much for my own glory. My motives aren't right. I need to submit myself to the purpose and the glory of God so that I can truly pray, with all my heart, the prayer that never fails: "Your will be done" I think then I might see my prayers be answered because it becomes all about him and not about me.
The key words are fight, quarrel and battle. The language in this section leaves the feeling of turmoil and unsettledness. James lays out a logical progression: you don't have because you don't ask. When you do ask, you don't receive because your motives are wrong.
So much of what drives me is envy and coveting. Just last night, watching tv, a commercial for the ipod touch came on. Wow! The first words out of my mouth were, "I want!" And who wouldn't? That is a sleek little piece of machinery. The truth is a) I don't need it - I actually hate the whole ipod craze. Take those ear buds out and enjoy your surroundings! Learn to endure a little silence. It's good for the soul! But I'm conflicted because some how the ipod has become the standard of cool - the cooler your ipod, the cooler you are and woe to those who don't have an ipod - and I desperately want to be cool! I am envious of those who have. There is another truth: b) I can't afford a touch. It would be the epitome of materialism, of gluttony, of irresponsibility for me to get one. I would have to take money out of something much more necessary like electricity or food.
The problem is that my desire has been awakened and while I might not physically kill I know that I have had to put people down out loud or in my mind to make myself feel better about not having what they do. The other problem would be if I started asking God for an ipod touch. That would definitely be asking with wrong motives - there is no way that I would (or even could?) use it to glorify God; my reason for having one is to glorify myself. The problem is that I have asked for so much for my own glory. My motives aren't right. I need to submit myself to the purpose and the glory of God so that I can truly pray, with all my heart, the prayer that never fails: "Your will be done" I think then I might see my prayers be answered because it becomes all about him and not about me.
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