Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 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. 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. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
(ESV)
—James 5:1-11
by: Jasmine Lynch.
This is a very encouraging text for those who are oppressed. It is a reminder that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will repay the rich who have oppressed their laborers. God sees and knows any injustice and corruption the rich have participated in; this is an appeal to His children to be patient. It is a reminder that God’s children should have confidence in preparing their hearts, knowing that the “coming of the Lord is at hand” (v.8, NKJV). You are not alone in your suffering. Remember Job and the prophets suffered and were blessed for their endurance. Check your own heart for injustice and corruption and trust God to take care of the rest.
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