The book of James - Chapter 5

Verse 1-3, come now, rich ones, weep, crying aloud over the hardships coming upon you! Your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have become rusty, and their rust shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 

Where are you storing your treasure, in Yahuah’s kingdom or here on earth? Hardship is coming to those who rely on the world and its riches because it will mean nothing in the end! Make sure your treasure is with Yahuah! 

Verse 4-6, see, the wages of the workmen who mowed your fields, which you kept back, cry out. And the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of Yahuah of hosts. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury, you have fattened your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous – he does not resist you. 

Jeremiah 22:13, “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his rooms without right-ruling, who uses his neighbour’s service without wages and does not give him his wages, ..... If you owe someone money for service done for you, you need to pay for it! If you have lived a selfless life of pleasure and luxury without giving to those in need, then be assured you have received your reward. 

Verse 7-8, so, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Master. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You too, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master has drawn near. 

To be patient is one of the hardest things to do! We all struggle with been patient as the world is always in a rush and therefore we do not have time to be patient. The world cannot be patient and therefore the business motto is: time is money! But think about it: If Yahusha Messiah did not have patience with us; He then would have punished us long before we could ever think of turning away from sin.

 

Verse 9, do not grumble against each other, brothers, lest you be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the door! 

Do not struggle or fight with each other, be patient with each other and rather look on that person’s good side and not on what that person does wrong. 

Verse 10, my brothers, as an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets, who spoke in the Name of Yahuah. 

How much suffering and patience must the prophets have gone through when they asked Israel to turn back to Yahuah. Just imagine the struggles the prophets went through and know we are called to do the same. 

Verse 11, see, we call those blessed who endure. You have heard of the endurance of Job and saw the purpose of Yahuah, that He is very sympathetic and compassionate. 

Can you handle and endure what Job had to go through! With patience and trust, Job made it through his trial. Job was blessed many times more than before his trial started. We can only learn from Job’s experience and endure till the end with patience. 

Verse 12, but above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by the heaven or by the earth or with any other oath. But let your Yea be Yea, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment. 

Walk the walk, do not talk the walk. If you say “Yes” then you need to mean Yes!

 Verse 13-15, is any of you suffering evil? Let him pray. Is anyone in good spirits? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the Name of the Master. And the prayer of the belief shall save the sick, and the Master shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he shall be forgiven. 

Pray when you are in need and pray when you are happy! Pray for your family, pray for your friends, pray to Yahuah through His son Yahusha (Jesus). Ask other believers to pray for you or your family! Prayer is the connection to Yahuah! 

Verse 16, confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, so that you are healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous one accomplishes much. 

When you have done someone harm, ask forgiveness! Forgiveness brings healing. Be serious when you pray, do not take it lightly! 

Verse 17-18, Eliyahu (Elijah) was a man with feelings like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the land brought forth its fruit. 

What a good example of the power of prayer: Eliyah believed through his prayer to Yahuah! It is our lack of faith during prayer that prevents us to be heard by Yahuah! 

Verse 19-20, brothers, if anyone among you goes astray from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a life from death and cover a great number of sins. 

As believers we need to spread the gospel and we need to guide people back to His word. Yahusha wants everyone to be saved. If someone is doing wrong according to the scripture, then you need to tell him/her of the wrong and guide them back with His word!

 Praise Yah always