Friday, October 07, 2011

Digging Deeper James 5:4-6 with Points to Ponder

James 5:4-6
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Points to Ponder
Please understand when James wrote this he was communicating something the Lord put in him to write. There is one true, accurate interpretation of these verses and I am not learned enough to know what that is specifically. Though there is one interpretation there may be various different applications.

What attitude do we have towards others? Are we givers or keepers at heart? Isn't this the very thing these landowners were struggling with? Their greatest priority was their own comfort, convenience, luxury and pleasure even at the expense of others. Are we willing to go without so others have what they need or have earned? When we give, do we give sacrificially putting our own comfort, convenience, luxury and pleasure second?

Are we self-indulgent? One of the commentators in Monday's Victory Call said, "a life without self-denial soon becomes out of control in every area" (MacArthur). Do we practice restraint? Do we practice self-denial? Do we live the crucified life?

Blessings,
Diane

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