November 12, 2024

Passage Read: James 4-5
Meditation Verses: 5:6-9

Thought

Twice in his letter, James warns believers against complaining against one another or judging each other. But in both cases, he is rebuking wrong behavior! He is judging believers, pointing out their faults and calling them to repent! This second time, he warns against complaining against one another, after just rebuking the rich for taking advantage of the poor, of their workers. Then, he turns to those who are being taken advantage of and tells them to be patient and not speak against their brothers. Where's the justice? Shouldn't they be up in arms? Shouldn't they protest and cry for justice against the wealthy, especially those in their fellowship, who withhold wages and cheat their brothers? On the contrary, James tells them to wait and not to complain against their brothers. God, in His time, will avenge. The rich have been warned. If they do not repent, God will judge them. Instead, the victims should continue to do good, be kind to everyone, speak evil of no one and probably find someone else to work for.

Application

This is a hard pill to swallow. The Christian is not to fight back, not to fight for your rights, even when it is another believer who cheats him--especially when it's another believer who takes advantage of him. The poor, who needs those wages to make ends meet, are supposed to just be patient, until the Lord supplies in His time. Those who endure will be rewarded. But what about my empty stomach? How long do I have to go without food or water or heat? How much more important is my spiritual life over my physical life? James takes away any excuse to complain, no matter how "just" my complaint may be. I can't complain about anyone, especially believers, even when they cheat me out of my most basic needs!