James 5:10-12
Patiently, Happily Suffering, Looking to God
Practical, Spiritual Solution to being cheated
I. Verse 10, Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. - Use the prophets for an example.
A. This scripture is talking about rewards.
1. James 1:1-6 is talking about the judgment of God upon the rich who have gained their wealth by cheating laborers.
2. James 1:7-9 is talking about the reaction of the cheated laborers to being cheated.
3. The thought is that all are rewarded equally if they apply spiritual solutions to their problems.
a. The person who gives a cup of cold water to a prophet in the name of that prophet shall receive the reward of a prophet.
b. A person who is not a preacher can receive the reward of a preacher if they will take care of their preacher.
B. This scripture is taking a physical hardship and showing a spiritual application, and a combination spiritual and physical result.
1. Verses 10-12 are not to be taken separately from the verses preceding them.
2. If the verses are studied "out of context", they will not be properly understood.
C. They were good men who stood for God's Word and suffered for it.
D. It'll not be any different for us.
E. Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel are good examples.
II. Verse 11, Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. - Know that happiness comes from endurance.
A. It seems James is rebuking those who count the prophets happy because they endured spiritual hardships, when they can't even endure material hardships.
1. If they are not able to stand the test of materialism, how do they expect to stand the wiles of Satan?
2. If a person is not willing to give up a few things on this earth, they will find it impossible to build up any treasure in heaven.
B. We may have a superficial knowledge, but let's make it a practical, personal knowledge.
C. If we have seen the patience of Job and his double blessing, we have seen the end of the Lord. When we more fully understand his sufferings, because we also suffer, we can more fully look for God's blessings.
1. Job 1:1-3 - Job was very rich, yet lost all he had.
2. He did not curse God, but worshipped (1:20).
3. He did have sorrow, for he rent his mantle, and shaved his head.
4. He never did curse God.
5. The lesson is that Job applied a spiritual solution to a material problem.
6. This is exactly what James is teaching.
D. The end of the Lord is not always seen on this earth, but is fully realized at the judgment when all things are made right. This is the true end of things.
1. Job 42:9-13 - The end of Job was that he gained twice as much as he had before.
2. The reason he gained twice as much was because he applied a spiritual solution to a material problem.
3. If we would apply spiritual solutions to our material problems, God just might double our material possessions, although He is not obligated to do anything.
4. At the very least, God would enable us to be content with what we have, knowing that He is able to give us all things in due time.
E. The Lord is pitiful and of tender mercies. while suffering endures, we tend to think God doesn't hear or feel, or understand, but when He reveals His mercy, we shall know that he does understand our heartaches.
III. Verse 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
A. Refers to Matt. 5:33-37
B. Above all things, this is very important because if you keep your tongue, it shows you have kept your heart. (Matt. 15:18)
C. Swear not, refers to the making of vows.
1. Because you can't control the circumstances, we can only react to those circumstances.
2. Heaven, it's God's throne, not ours.
3. Earth, it's God's footstool, not ours.
4. Any other oath - for we have no control over them. We can't even control our own life.
5. James 4:13-15 - To rashly declare what we are going to do is swearing, or making a vow about our future.
D. Yea, yea, and nay, nay - This doesn't mean we are supposed to say only yea, yea, or nay, nay.
1. James 4:15 - We ought to say, "If the Lord will."
2. We are to trust God at every turn and never trust ourselves.
E. Fall into condemnation.
1. Fall - by our ignorance, not on purpose.
2. condemnation - shows the evil of our hearts in not trusting God. Not only will God see our arrogance, but others will also see. Hopefully, God will reveal our arrogance to us.