The Epistle of James, Part 6
We’re six week into our series and encountering some of the hardest hitting passages yet. Does James just have a chip on hist shoulder when it comes to business people with money? Or is something more going on here?
The Unmerciful Servant, by Willem Drost, c. 1650. Dutch painter.
This week we’re dealing with two groups of people who are associated with the church - first, presumptuous people, and second, rich oppressors who exploit poorer/weaker people. I’ve used the language of “The Myth of Control” this week to talk about the tendency for humans to believe we are “the masters of our fate.” James challenges the presumptuousness of those who make plans regardless of God’s will.
Anchor Texts:
Questions to Ponder:
Shouldn’t we make plans for the future and be responsible? Is it wrong to save for future goals? Is it wrong to aim to buy a house or start a business with a 5 year plan? How do you define the difference between what James is warning about and planning for the future?
Read Verse 15 again. How do we know “if the Lord wills” something? For example, I want to start a hot dog stand in downtown Mitchell (not really!), how do I know if the Lord wills for me to do so?
In 5:1, the rich (oppressors) are warned about the coming miseries. Do you think this is the best way to get their attention? How would you try to reach someone you know in or around the church who is unjust in their dealings?
In Matthew 18:21-35 the unforgiving servant abuses a lesser servant - can you think of how he might try to justify his behaviour? Have you tried to justify behaviour like this? What should the servant have done in this situation?
In Ecclesiastes 1, everything is called “meaningless", or “vanity,” or “vapour” - read the passage linked above and try to explain in simple language what the author of Ecclesiastes is saying about our lives and pursuits. (For help check out Hosea 13:2-4 as well)
The Theme for Kids:
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant isn’t our main story today, but it’s related. What could cause the wicked servant to act the way he did? I think it’s linked to James’ warning to the rich oppressors. The’ll do whatever they can to keep up the illusion of control over their lives. Especially after they’ve been humiliated like the bankrupt wicked servant, even though he’s been forgiven. We don’t want to have hard hearts - we want God’s forgiveness to change us so we are kind, not mean and oppressive to those around us.
The Theme in Art:
Unfortunately, the artist responsible for this line drawing has been lost in the mess of the internet. The image is simple and striking and I think it illustrates well that fact that it doesn’t matter how “big” a person is, they can be an oppressor to someone slightly smaller. The chain of oppression is so often long, and as Christians we are commanded by Jesus to break that chain when it meets us. We must respond like “the righteous one” in 5:6.
The Theme in Song:
Instead of oppression, we are called to be people who live in and spread the justice of the Kingdom. This song is associated with International Justice Mission and is steeped in the language of the God’s own Words, the only source of hope and justice for the world!