My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. (James 5:19-20 NLT); Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
God spoke through James regarding how the wealthy among us should treat others that have less, by calling them out on the wrong way many of them may have treated people: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.(James 5:1-6) Those who have more than others, You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,...(Deuteronomy 8:17-18) For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
Those of us who don't have all the luxuries and ease of life are instructed on how we are to behave also: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! [Revelations 3:20] My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11) Whatever trials, tribulations and difficulties we may have to go through, it is nothing compared to the blessings God has for us, for If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (II Timothy 2:12)
Each of us, regardless of how much or little that we have, have a responsibility to help eachother, while remaining faithful and obedient to God: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. [I Kings 17-18] (James 5:13-18) No matter what "season" in life we may go through, we should always be able to say, To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)
And of course, our ultimate purpose is to lead others to Christ: Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20) A church sign read: "It good to be a Christian, but it's better to act like one!" How true! We must be mindful to ... be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12) And we must make sure that our words, along with our actions, line up with the Word of God: But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. (James 5:12) Say what we mean, mean what we say, and Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven! (Matthew 5:16) AMEN!
God spoke through James regarding how the wealthy among us should treat others that have less, by calling them out on the wrong way many of them may have treated people: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.(James 5:1-6) Those who have more than others, You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,...(Deuteronomy 8:17-18) For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
Those of us who don't have all the luxuries and ease of life are instructed on how we are to behave also: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! [Revelations 3:20] My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11) Whatever trials, tribulations and difficulties we may have to go through, it is nothing compared to the blessings God has for us, for If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (II Timothy 2:12)
Each of us, regardless of how much or little that we have, have a responsibility to help eachother, while remaining faithful and obedient to God: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. [I Kings 17-18] (James 5:13-18) No matter what "season" in life we may go through, we should always be able to say, To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)
And of course, our ultimate purpose is to lead others to Christ: Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20) A church sign read: "It good to be a Christian, but it's better to act like one!" How true! We must be mindful to ... be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12) And we must make sure that our words, along with our actions, line up with the Word of God: But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. (James 5:12) Say what we mean, mean what we say, and Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven! (Matthew 5:16) AMEN!
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