James 5

James closes his letter with a discussion of prayer that continues the theme he began in chapter one: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

For instance, James encourages the sick to go to the elders for anointing with oil and prayer. In that culture the people believed there was a direction connection between sin and sickness. Doctors and medicine were not readily available, if at all. Today, when we are sick our options include going to the pharmacy, calling our doctor or going to a clinic or ER. The difference between our culture and first century Jerusalem reminds me of something Mother Teresa said, “You will never know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”

God has blessed us to live in an age where we have many health care options and we should use these. However, we also need to remember that God is the author of our life and it is good to go to God in prayer in all of our circumstances. Anointing and praying for the sick is an expression of the truth that our lives belong to God. By creation and redemption our lives belong to God.

James is very consistent with Paul in affirming that our life in Christ will overflow with joy, and singing and prayer. These three are like a doctor taking our blood pressure, pulse and temperature. When they are abnormal we are sick. So also, when there is an absence of joy, singing and prayer in our lives we are spiritually sick.

(To see how singing, joy and praise were an integral part of the life in Christ in the first century look up: 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19; and Colossians 3:16)

We live in a pessimistic time. The news media offers us a steady diet of depressing stories and it is so easy for this attitude to drift into the consciousness of the Christian and the Christian Church.

James is reminding me of something very important to my spiritual wellbeing:

“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?