REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

What a Believing Community Can Do to Deal with Difficulties (Part 1)
James 4:13-5:11

James 4:13-17
13Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
15Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."
16But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.
17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 5:1-11
1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
2Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
4Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11We count those blessed who endured you have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.


Introduction

Last week’s message dealt with what the Christian church can contribute to building a peaceful and just society. The premise was that the church is to be in the forefront of promoting maturity and discipline, true wisdom, and humility.

The fourth message in our series is about what we can do to deal with difficulties. James wrote to dispersed Jewish Christians. As such, they were under difficult situation, struggling to make sense of their status. The paragraph we are dealing with today is found in at the close of James’ epistle. It served as ‘road signs’ to ensure a safe and successful journey for this bunch of deported Jewish believers.

The message of James to this 1st century believing community can be useful for the 21st century Christians as well. Let’s take a look at these ‘road signs’:

I. Consider God’s Will (4:13-17)
When difficulty strikes consider God’s will. This section is addressed to rich Christians who are living and managing their businesses the way the world does. They don’t care so much about God’s will. They act like they are the real masters of their own lives. “…you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil” said James (4:16). Life is just a tiny speck in the light of eternity. We are like a vapor that billows up for a little while and disappears. In this regard, considering God’s will in every decision is very important.

Instead of saying "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit", you should say "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." We should never act as if we are in full control of what will happen tomorrow. A few years back, there was a song that says “it’s my life…” I will do whatever I want, it’s my life anyway. Yes, it’s your life but God is the giver of life and he holds the sole right to direct that life of yours.

Since life is too short and nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, we ought to entrust to God even the smallest details of our being and let His will take its rightful place. If we fail to do what we ought to do we are committing a sin. Procrastination is not an option. Every serious Christian ought to do what he needs to do.

II. Do not Abuse your Employees (5:1-6)
Another road sign says, “do not abuse your employees” (5:1-6). This portion is intended for unbelieving rich who oppress the poor. The main reason for these abuses is the negative effect of wealth to these people. James condemns these effects not the rich. The Bible declares that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). We definitely need money to live and do businesses, pay our bills, send our kids to school, and buy what we need. We need money to go on with the ministry.

Money is not evil in itself it is the love of money that leads one to abuse the people that are working for them. James declared that these kinds of people are storing up evidences for the coming judgment day. It is very interesting to note that the cries of the oppressed poor are reaching the throne of God. In the book Exodus the same statement is found when the cries of Israelites reached the ears of the Lord (Exo. 3:7). The people of God were experiencing terrible oppression courtesy of the Egyptians. God’s heart is always close to those who are oppressed (Matt. 5:10, 11).

If you are a boos, an owner of a company, a supervisor, a manager, a principal or owner of a school, a mother or a father, whatever your career may be the warning from the epistle of James rings very clear: “Do not abuse the people around you especially those who are close to you and working hard for you.” Give what’s due for them and do not use your money to oppress them. Manage your people using God’s standards rather than the world’s standard.

III. Be Patient (5:7-11)
In this section, James turns his attention once again to the poor who are oppressed by the wealthy in 5:1-6. He exhorts them to be patient in the light of the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord brings hope for the poor and the oppressed. This hope will help them persevere and be patient for they know that God will surely return to reward them. He used the example of a farmer who patiently waits for the harvest. The “early and late rains” refer to the short rainy periods in Palestine before and after the main rainy season probably in November through April.

To be patient is “to be able to bear pains or trials without complaint.” This definition is fitting for a believing community who was suffering from pains and trials. They need to practice this virtue to be able to emerge victorious from the difficulties of being persecuted outside of their homeland.

Just like Job who patiently endured the severe trials that struck his life and the life of his entire family and possessions. He emerged triumphant from the tragedies and God restored to his possession all the things that were taken from him. God blessed him twice as much as before (Job 42: 10). In the New Testament, we have the best example of patience. Jesus Christ the begotten Son of God endured the sufferings and death on the cross. He is our ultimate example.

There is no room for grumbling for if we grumble God’s judgment will fall on us. We are not to blame and judge others for our miseries. God has the sole right to judge us based on our own deeds. Just like a farmer, Job, ultimately Jesus Christ let us practice patience as a true blooded Filipino. Filipinos laugh at tragedies, we always find time to relax and entertain ourselves after a long and tiring day. The vernacular terms “pagtitiis” or “tiyaga” indicates a strong determination to go on with life despite constant rains, typhoons, floods, rising prices of commodities, and other sorts of hardship as part of living in the Philippines. This Filipino virtue can be easily translated into our life as Filipino Christians in order to manage difficulties.


Conclusion

In his book ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’, Dave Grant explained the difference between a ‘reaction’ and a ‘response.’ People who ‘react’ to situations in life use the pronoun “YOU”. When they experience difficulties, they jump out of character and blame others.

People who ‘respond’ to situations use the pronoun “I.” They make things happen because they’re in control of their own feelings. They tell people what they feel without blaming that person for their misfortunes.

Jesus was consistent in responding rather than reacting to the circumstances of life. He is aware that we face many pressures in life as a believing community. He wants us to follow His example. When things go wrong, respond by considering God’s will, being kind to people who work under your supervision, and practice patience.

Facade Renovation Update

Thank God! We are almost done with our facade renovation. We just have to put the Foursquare emblems on the panels. Thank you for your support.
The next phase of the project is the extension of the canopy, extension of the lobby and ramp. Watch out for more updates.
God bless you.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

What We Can Contribute to Building a Peaceful and Just Society
James 3:1-4:12

James 3 (The Message)

1-2Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.
3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!
5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!
10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?
13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
17-18Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

James 4
1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
4-6You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."
7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
11-12Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

Introduction
The first message in the series, entitled “A Closer Look at Trials” encouraged us not to resent trials but to take them as occasion to be joyful, to be wise and fair, and to consider the goodness of God.
The second message, “A No-Nonsense Faith” challenged us to find ways to unite our thoughts and actions.
The second part of Francis M.’s ‘Kaleidoscope World’ aptly illustrates the issues we are going to address in the third message in our series.

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bass line strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Today, we will talk about our contribution to building a peaceful and just society. Each of us plays an important role in this endeavor. As the song says, no matter how big or small our role may be, it adds color to our society. Our premise is that the church should take the lead in upholding peace and righteousness in the society.

Let us put the church in the forefront of promoting:

I. Maturity and Discipline (3:1-12)
Proper use of the tongue indicates maturity. The problems in James’s day were quite different from what we experience today. But they way we react or respond to problems and trials are the same. James addressed the issue of the use of tongue to the teachers of his day. His reference to teachers was not restricted to individuals selected for an official and specific task of teaching. He was referring to nearly impulsive effort by individuals to teach whenever they felt the leadership of God’s Spirit. Certainly, there were individuals in James’s day who eagerly desire to be teachers but do not realize the accompanying responsibility. Thus, he warned them to be cautious because teachers receive greater condemnation or judgment.
They way use our tongue indicates the level of our maturity. We are all teachers in our own rights. The way we talk and act greatly influences people. Teachers have great influence. Do you remember the persons who were most influential in your own life? Your school teachers, Sunday school teachers, youth advisers, parents, and a lot more persons who influenced the way you think, talk, and act. In fact, there were times that the influence of teachers may be more far-reaching than that of parents.
If the tongue is disciplined the whole person is disciplined as well. James used the analogy of bits in the horse’s mouth, rudder, and forest fires set by a small fire. All these examples point to how a small thing called tongue can build or ruin lives and communities. The point James is trying to drive is that a disciplined tongue means a disciplined life. If we as Christians are mature and disciplined, we can be sure that building a peaceful and just society is not difficult to achieve.

II. True Wisdom (3:13-18)
False wisdom is selfish and arrogant. Once more we are reminded of James’s insistence that the good qualities of life must be shown in practical ways. Another challenge was thrown by the writer to his recipients: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.”(3:13-14, NASB, italics added).
There are many in our churches today who claim to such achievements. It is easy and pleasant to claim wisdom, but such self-proclaimed wisdom is seldom true wisdom. True wisdom never calls attention to itself, never displays itself for personal profit. If one claims he is wise yet he displays a selfish and arrogant life, his wisdom is false. Let this be known from the government, corporate and business executives to the lowly daily wage workers that true wisdom is pure and peace loving never selfish and arrogant.
It is not enough to brag about wisdom; it is not enough to claim to have understanding. These qualities, if real, will manifest themselves in the type of life lived. The wise man shows his works, not his wisdom. The man who is wise and understanding “is to show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
Christians need to translate their wisdom into concrete or tactile conduct because that is what our society needs today.

III. Preventive Measures (4:1-12)
The roots of discord are sinfulness, worldliness, and bad-mouthing. Why do such things happen in the life of these Jewish Christians? They quarrel, they envy one another, they kill, they slander, and they compromise with worldly patterns. It was wrong. They were wrong because their actions showed a complete disregard for the personality of the other individual. They were wrong because their actions indicated a total misunderstanding of God. They were wrong because their actions were unworthy of the Christ whom these people claimed they love and serve. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). By avoiding such mistakes, we are doing our society an act of kindness.
Humility is one effective preventive measure. Humility is the very opposite of pride. To humble ourselves before God means we must admit that we have nothing upon which to rely in the presence of God. Our best is worthless before him. Our few good deeds are meaningless because of our sin. In the final analysis, we must rely totally upon God’s mercy. Instead of quarreling over worldly matters, Christians from James’s period to the present time must rely solely upon God. We should not rely on our own wisdom; we should not rely on our own strength rather let society see that our strength and wisdom come from God. We should avoid false humility instead; let us avoid the mistakes of James’s readers by being humble all the time and in all places.

Conclusion
The task of building a peaceful and just society rests in the shoulders of every concerned citizen. However, the church as mandated by the Lord, should take the lead in this endeavor. In order to accomplish this task effectively, we need to make sure that there is peace, righteousness, and humility inside the church. These virtues will abundantly flow from our church to our community until such time that the entire society is immersed in the peace, humility, and righteousness of the Lord. We will refuse to let this flow be hampered by the sinfulness of the world.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

A No-Nonsense Faith
James 1:19-2:26

Introduction
No-nonsense means practical and serious, and only interested in doing what is necessary or achieving what is intended, without silly ideas or methods. (Cambridge)

The Bible demands a direct application of what it says. James is demanding the same no-nonsense conversion of our faith into good works.

I. A No-Nonsense Faith will Keep Us Away from Discord (1:19-27)
James opens this section with an exhortation to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” It will be a very frustrating scenario for these Jewish Christians to be in discord while suffering from various trials and temptation and living in a foreign land. Instead of falling into the trap of rebellion and disagreement, they were exhorted to just do what God’s Word says. A quick response to God’s word will keep them away from discord.
The marks of a genuine faith (religion) are first, a controlled tongue. One must be in good command of his tongue. I was watching a talk show few days ago and there was this famous actress who uttered kind words on TV yet at the end of the interview she blurted out a crisp, short sentence that marred her previous statements.
Next is an intentional ministry for the poor. Caring for the poor is also an important mark of a genuine faith. Churches should see to it that the poor is well-taken care of. We should do something to alleviate their living. Another mark of a genuine faith is a corruption-free lifestyle. The pattern of this world (as the apostle Paul puts in Romans 12: 2) is not in accordance with God’s pattern of living. We can enjoy the things that the world offers without compromising our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In whatever we do everyday let us see to it that we are not staining our life with the corruption of this world.
If we are occupied by these actions, there will be no time for discord.

II. A No-Nonsense Faith Keeps Us Away from Favoritism (2:1-13)
One of the causes of favoritism is comparison. Dave Grant in his book “you’ve Got What It Takes” (1978) said that feelings of inferiority can result when you constantly compare yourself to others.” When you compare a person to another person, you are actually saying that one is inferior to the other. This kind of practice is inconsistent with the Christina faith. And as such, you are committing a sin.
Instead of showing favoritism, one should see to it that God’s love is applied to every particular situation in life. James’ readers were somewhat made to believe that some lapses from the rich is tolerable. They failed to apply what Jesus taught in the Gospel about loving their neighbors. God does not show favoritism.
As a church we must see to it that God’s love is felt by every sector of society – rich or poor. A very important reminder was given to us: God will judge us based on whether or not we have dispensed mercy to those who deserve it. If we are merciful here now, God will also be merciful to us in the coming Day of Judgment. In view of this fact, let us take every opportunity to show mercy to people regardless of their status in the society.

III. A No-Nonsense Faith Enables Us to Put Our Words Into Action (2:14-26)
Now that we are saved, we need to prove it by our good works. While Paul is saying that one cannot be saved by good works, James is saying that salvation produces good works. James used the examples of Abraham and Rahab. Both of them acted on their faith. Faith results to actions appropriate to such a declaration of faith. If it lacks good works then, that faith is nonsense. It cannot accomplish anything.
Good deeds are impartial evidence that our faith is active or on the go. James is referring to a faith that accomplishes something good for other people. If one fails to do this, his faith is just like those of the demons. Our good works reflects our inner character. We don’t end by just confessing that we are Christians, we need to prove that confession with works that are beneficial to others. God desires that we attain to that level where our faith is alive and active. He desires that kind of faith not a dead one.

Conclusion
Our goal is to have a meaningful praxis. Praxis means ‘translating or converting a thought or an idea into action.’ It may also refer to ‘the way we do things.’ The union of thought and action is what we need as Christians.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us the right way on how to convert our faith into action.