You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5, ESV; compare Ezek. 16:49, Amos 4:1). What do these passages link to luxurious indulgence? In the ancient world the notion prevailed that there was a fixed amount of wealth, meaning that if the … Continue reading –>
Reading through James, we may notice that several different categories of wealthy people are mentioned, including rich merchants who will be cut down in the midst of their pursuits (James 1:11), business people who sue to protect their investments (James 2:6), and agricultural landholders who have withheld wages from their laborers (James 5:4). These verses … Continue reading –>
Read James 5:2-3. What warning is James giving here? Though his words are quite strong, what kind of wealth is he talking about? What’s the basic message? Rotting wealth, moth-eaten clothing, and even silver and gold rusting-these are images for us to consider soberly as our planet spins blissfully on, faster and faster toward its … Continue reading –>
Chapter 5 of James begins with a bang: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! (James 5:1, NKJV). No doubt, that would have gotten his readers’ attention. In James 1:10-11, he reminded the rich of the impermanence of wealth. Here, in chapter 5 , he urges those … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: James 5:1-6, Ps. 73:3-19, 1 Sam. 25:2-11, Lev. 19:13, Luke 16:19-31, Matt. 5:39. Memory Text: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21). The worldwide popularity of the television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? suggests that many people vicariously enjoy the rags-to-riches fantasy … Continue reading –>
Dennis Rodrigues As a teenager Solomon was not so smart. He let his peers influence his decisions and began smoking and taking drugs. He experimented with every drug he could get, and often he grew weak because he was not eating. Drugs were all he cared for. Solomon and his friends were always together, smoking … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Read about the value of time in Ellen G. White, Talents, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 342-346, and share the points that impressed you with your Sabbath School class. Let no one among you glory any longer against the truth by declaring that this spirit [of discerning the evil motives of others] is a … Continue reading –>
Read James 4:15-17 in the context of the verses that come before it. What crucial point is he making here? James here is dealing with the attitude of self-dependence. In fact, he calls that attitude arrogance, and the words spoken as boasting; he says it is evil. That’s how important the right attitude is for … Continue reading –>
Read James 4:14. What crucial point is being made here? Life is uncertain. Every breath is a gift. James 4:14 uses a very rare Greek word (atmis), which is translated as vapor or mist. Like the Hebrew word hebel (breath, vapor), which occurs 38 times in Ecclesiastes and is often translated as vanity, it emphasizes … Continue reading –>
Read James 4:13. (Compare Luke 12:13-21.) How do we balance prudent planning for the future with our need to live each day in expectation of Christ’s imminent coming? How can we avoid the trap of merely building bigger barns? It may seem very reasonable to plan a year in advance or even more. Businesses commonly … Continue reading –>
