“The Rich and the Oppressed” (James 5:1–12)

“The Rich and the Oppressed” (James 5:1–12)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, August 16, 2015

James 5:1–12 (NIV)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 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. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ 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. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

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1.    Those who oppress others through their power and wealth will come to judgment in God’s time; so Christians should not seek their own revenge (1–6).

a.    The unbelieving rich oppressors should lament because God’s judgment is soon coming (1).
b.    Their trust in their vast wealth will not save them on the Day of Judgment (2–3a).
c.    In fact, their wealth will be evidence against them on the Day of Judgment (3b).
d.    The charges against them are read:

i.    They are guilty of hoarding wealth, keeping it from others in need (3c).
ii.    They are guilty of withholding the wages of their day laborers (4).
iii.    They are guilty of living in selfish luxury (5).
iv.    Their abuse of wealth has led to oppression, injustice, and even violence against the poor (6).

e.    The solution for oppressed believers is not to seek to take vengeance…

2.    Instead, Christians should patiently endure oppression and suffering in hope of the Lord’s return when he will righteously judge (7–11).

a.    Patiently endure oppression and suffering because the Lord is coming (7).
b.    Patient endurance is not passive, but an active, faithful, obedient endurance in hope of Christ’s coming (8).
c.     In the midst of suffering, we must not complain or criticize others (9).
d.    We must speak the truth on behalf of God in the midst of suffering (10).
e.    We must trust God’s sovereign hand and wait in hope for his mercy (11).

3.    Christians should not seek to avoid oppression by making promises that they cannot keep (12).

a.    Christians in oppressive situations might have been tempted to enter into oaths or promise agreements to incur debt, knowing that there was slim hope of paying it back.

i.    Christians should not make promises that they know they can’t keep (12a).
ii.    Christians should be characterized by complete integrity, including their words (12b).

Main Idea: As believers, we need to patiently endure the mistreatment and oppression of unbelievers, confident that Jesus is coming again and will make everything right. In the meantime, let us be people of unfailing integrity and patient hopefulness.