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James 5

1. Possessions and Priorities will be judged. (James 5:2-6) 
   1. Riches that are temporary and will: 
      1. Rot, be moth-eaten, become corroded. (vv. 2-3)
   2. Riches that display “gluttony” of self: 
      1. Luxury, self-indulging, fattened for slaughter (v.5)
   3. Riches that reveal not living the “royal law”: (James 2:8: “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.”) 
      1. Withheld wages (v. 4)
      2. Condemned and murdered the innocent (v. 6)

Principle: Our greatest possessions are in God alone. (Matt 6:19-20; 19:20)

1. Patience in suffering. (James 5:7-12)
   1. Focus on the Lord (He is coming! 5:7,8,9) 
   2. Don’t complain/grumble (v. 9) 
   3. Examples 
      1. Farmers (v. 8) 
      2. Prophets (v. 10) 
      3. Job (v. 11)

5:11: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Principle: We must wait patiently in God alone. (Ps 37:7; 38:15)

1. Principles of prayer. (James 5:13-20)
   1. Pray! 
      1. Suffering? Pray to Him!
      2. Cheerful? Sing to Him! 
      3. Sick? Call elders to pray to Him!
      4. Sins? Confess. 
   2. Why?
      1. Prayer restores.
      2. Prayer results in forgiveness.
      3. Prayer heals.
   3. Example: Elijah (see also 1 Kings 17-18)

5:16: “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Principle: Through prayer, we trust in God alone. (James 1:5,6)

Applications:

• Possessions and Priorities: Where do my possessions or priorities indicate a god in my life instead of God of my life?
• Patience: Is there an area of my life where lack of patience is revealing my lack of faith?
• Prayer: What “needless pain” am I bearing that I could take to the Lord in prayer? – not to get my way, but to have peace in His?