[Thought questions for Weep and Howl December 2, 2014]

Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com

1. Weep and howl! Can you imagine the impression those words made on James’ readers and listeners? What if you went to church one week, and the pastor walked to the pulpit wearing his usual invisible robe of humility but  places his hand in the open Bible and bellows to the frightened congregation, “Weep and howl!” What is going on? What is the message that follows?

2. Dangers of being rich. Your wealth, to some degree, depends on your visa. If you live or travel or work as a missionary in a poverty-stricken country, are you considered to be rich or even wealthy? Is it wrong to be wealthy? James tells rich folks to watch out because miseries are coming on them. Is that fair? What sort of miseries come upon the rich? What is the cure? What should be our response when we learn of the suffering of economically deprived people? Should we try to be poor so we can escape the problems of the rich?

3. Worthless wealth. How does your use of money reflect your regard for others? Remember the Old Testament account of Nabal? Of what benefit was his wealth to him? What about Hezekiah, who gladly showed off his riches to foreign rulers? Then there’s the encounter between Peter and the crippled man who begged for some of Peter’s limited store of money to get over his malady. Was it money that cured him? Are there times when we should give of our means and help others with their problems? What warning does James give us concerning wealth during the time of the end?

4. The rich get richer and the poor…Do people today ever deprive their workers of money? Are dishonest sales ever made to increase profit? Are we ever in a big hurry to blame others for our financial problems? Is it wrong to overcharge poor people but okay to add to the price when we’re dealing with the well-to-do? What does the parable of Lazarus tell us about the value of wealth? Since we know that everyone in heaven will be abundantly blessed, why should we be in a hurry to share our wealth now?

5. Condemnation without protest. Does it sometimes seem that people generally have a reason for doing bad things–even murder and theft? Is it a good idea to “turn the other cheek” and ignore insults? How do you feel about people you know who are wealthy? Is it wrong for them to have a substantial accumulation of wealth? Should they give it away to be on the level of common folks like us? Is it any concern of yours how other people obtain or spend money? What matters more than wealth–yours or that of others?

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