James 05:07-12 Handling Oppression – audio

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Text: James 5:7-12

Introduction

1. Do you feel like someone is out to get you? That they are trying to take advantage of you? That you are being oppressed?

2. What should you do when you are oppressed? What should you NOT do?

3. In James 5, we find James giving instructions to those who are being oppressed

a The rich had been holding back their wages – James 5:4

b. The rich had been oppressing the righteous – James 5:6

c. What were the oppressed Christians to do?

4. In James 5:7-12 (And surrounding verses), we find principles and instructions which help us to see what Christians should do when they are oppressed

Body

I. DON’T RESIST

A. SUCH WAS THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE BEING OPPRESSED IN JAMES’ DAY

1. Notice James 5:4-6

2. Though treated unjustly, they did not resist

B. NOT RESISTING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TEACHING OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES

1. Consider Luke 6:27-30

2. Also Romans 12:19-21

3. And 1 Peter 2:18-23

C. ADMITTEDLY, NOT RESISTING IS CONTRARY TO HUMAN NATURE AND WISDOM

1. Human nature moves one to react in “justifiable anger”

2. Human wisdom calls for “standing up for one’s rights”

D. BUT NOT RESISTING IS BASED UPON TWO THINGS

1. AN AWARENESS that the Lord is coming to judge – James 5:8-9

a. But it may also refer to the Lord’s final coming on the Day of Judgment which has yet to occur

b. Likewise, we can look for the coming of the Lord in judgment at our death

2. A WILLINGNESS to let Him be our avenger – Luke 18:7-8

II. BE PATIENT

A. THE WORD FOUND HERE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT FOUND EARLIER IN THIS EPISTLE

1. In James 1:3, the word is “hupomone“

a. Which means to bear up under trials

b. Which normally means to be patient in reference to THINGS or CIRCUMSTANCES

2. In James 5:7-8, 10, the word is “makrothumia“

a. Which means to suffer long

b. Which normally means to be patient in reference to PEOPLE

B. THREE EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN TO ENCOURAGE US TO BE PATIENT

1. The FARMER – James 5:7

2. The PROPHETS – James 5:10

3. JOB – James 5:11

C. EACH OF THESE EXAMPLES TEACHES US:

1. To place our trust in the Lord, that He will eventually reward us for our trust in Him

2. To be steadfast, in the meantime, in our service to Him

III. ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS

A. THE WORD “ESTABLISH”

1. Means “to fix, make fast, to set” – James 5:8

2. Is translated “strengthen” in other places

3. To establish one’s heart, then

a. Involves strengthening our heart in a certain way

b. Here, it means to strengthen our heart so as to be patient and not resist the evil being done

B. THE “KEY” TO ESTABLISHING OUR HEARTS

1. Is the Word of God – 2 Peter 1:12

2. Through constant and careful study of God’s Word

a. Our faith in God and His eventual justice is made stronger

b. Patience and strength to not resist is developed – Romans 15:4

IV. DON’T GRUMBLE

A. ESPECIALLY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER (9)

1. When others oppress us, we are likely to vent our frustrations as those closest and dearest to us

2. For example, a man after a bad day at work often takes it out on his wife and family

3. So brethren are likely to direct their frustration towards each other when being oppressed from outside

B. WE HAVE GOOD REASON NOT TO GRUMBLE

1. “lest you be condemned”

2. The sin of grumbling is a serious one – 1 Corinthians 10:5-11

3. The same Lord who will judge those who oppress others will judge those who murmer and grumble!

V. DON’T SWEAR

A. THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE ONE IS LIKELY TO DO WHEN IN TROUBLE

1. In other words, make rash promises

2. Promises which God will hold you to, even if not serious – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

B. THIS PROHIBITION APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO “FLIPPANT OATHS”

1. In Jesus’ day, many Jews were prone to swear in this fashion

2. Where they made a distinction between oaths using God’s name and other oaths (Those using His name were considered binding, while the others were not)

3. Both Jesus and James condemn this distinction between different kinds of oaths – Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22

VI. PRAY

A. THIS IS THE KEY THING TO DO WHEN OPPRESSED

1. As we learn from James 5:13

2. This is what the Christians of James’ day were doing – James 5:4

B. WHEN WE PRAY, GOD HEARS!

1. As seen in James 5:4

2. As promised by both Jesus and James, the Lord will avenge His righteous ones – Luke 18:7-8; James 5:7-8

3. It may not come when we want it, and the Lord may “bear long with us” – Revelation 6:9-11

4. But when the time is ripe, the oppressed will be avenged!

Conclusion

1. Therefore, when we are being oppressed

a. Don’t resist

b. Be patient

c. Establish your hearts

d. Don’t grumble

e. Don’t swear

f. PRAY!

2. When we react this way to oppression

a. We follow the example of Christ and the early disciples

b. Who committed themselves to God who judges righteously

1) Christ – 1 Peter 2:23

2) The disciples – 1 Peter 4:19

3. With such a righteous God on our side, it should be a lot easier to endure those who oppress us!

4. Is the righteous God on your side? Or rather, are you on His side?