Sermon series: Pressure Points
To be used with: Session Six. The Pressure of Retaliation
Alternate title: Wait for the Lord's Rescue
Scriptures: James 5:1-11
Connection to unit theme
It is natural to want justice. It is even natural to desire retaliation. Yet we know that God is going to make all things right. He will bring justice. This truth shapes the way we respond to injustice. When we are wronged the Scriptures encourage us to respond with patient endurance instead of sinful retaliation.
Introduction
This song, God Will Lift Up Your Head, by Jars of Clay would have been welcome to the ears of those that James writes to. Perhaps they are welcome to our ears as well:
Give to the wind your fear Hope and be undismayed God hears your sighs and counts your tears God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head
Chorus: God will lift up your head God will lift up your head God will lift up your head Lift up your head
Leave to His sovereign sway To choose and to command Then shall we wandering on His way Know how wise and how strong How wise and how strong (Chorus)
Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears the way Wait because in His time, so shall this night Soon end in joy, soon end in joy Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
(Chorus)
In times of great distress we can be tempted to pursue our own retaliation. Yet the truth that God is going to set all things right charts for us a different course. There are three implications from this truth that James outlines in this text. First, because God is making all things right we must be sure that we are not on the wrong side of His bringing of justice. Secondly, we must trust in His coming rescue and not our own feeble attempts at retaliation. Lastly, in the midst of suffering we must strengthen our hearts.
I. Be on the right side of God's rescue (5:1-6)
In 5:1-6 James address the rich. He likely is not actually speaking to the wealthy but about them for the benefit of the oppressed believers that are present. It serves as a warning not to be on the wrong side of God's rescue.
A. Those who trust in riches will suffer the same fate as their fading treasures (5:1-3)
Ruined & moth-eaten
Corroded
B. Mere wealth isn't the problem here, extortion is (5:4-6)
Unfair wages
Living in luxury in a day of slaughter
Condemnation and murder of the righteous
For God to bring justice it means that oppressors and wrongdoers will be condemned. Such a truth urges us to turn to Christ in repentance and belief.
II. Trust in God's rescue (5:7-8a)
Those that are presently oppressing the believers in James' day will eventually come to justice. In light of this truth we are to trust in God's rescue and not pursue our own means of retaliation.
A. Be patient because the Lord is coming (5:7)
As seen in the farmer
B. His rescue will be precious (5:7)
As the precious fruit that the farmer so patiently waits for
This also implies working as we wait
III. Strengthen our hearts as we wait for God's rescue (5:8b-11)
Not only must we wait but we also must actively strengthen our hearts.
A. The coming of the Lord is at hand (5:8b)
This implies that we must be ready for His coming and not found sleeping and inactive
B. Not complaining (5:9)
We are tempted to complain as we wait for rescue
Such complaining puts us on the wrong side of God's rescue
C. Consider examples (5:10-11)
Consider the prophets (5:10)
Consider Job (5:11)
Consider the Lord's character (5:11)
Conclusion
When we pursue our own retaliation it reveals a heart that does not trust in the Lord's ultimate rescue. The same is true if we find ourselves in bitter despair when we experience oppression. The Lord Jesus faced a great injustice than we ever will. During this time He absolutely trusted in the Lord. By doing this He secured our rescue. May we continue to trust Him and His rescue instead of fighting for our perceived "rights"!