James 5:1-6 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens. James describes the woes for the wealthy. God doesn’t offer any redeeming words to rich people who obtain their money by taking advantage of the poor. Neither does he condone persons who use all their wealth for self-indulgence. I have occasionally heard wealthy Christians wrestle with what the Bible says about wealth. As I understand the scriptures, both here and
Proverbs 3:13-18 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens. The world today puts great value on wealth and power. Unfortunately, even our churches give in to this kind of small thinking and give leadership roles to those who have “proven themselves” in the world. Out the window goes faith and even honor in too many instances. But the true student of the Bible will come up
James 3:13-16 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens. What prompts people to do good deeds? Politicians often do good deeds to gain recognition and votes. Businessmen make great donations to get tax write-offs. Some people want to be seen doing good deeds so they will make a good impression on others. Deeds done out of selfish ambition or envy are futile attempts to appease others,
James 3:10-12 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens. We were made in the image of God. How can we let our tongues get so un-godly? One minute we are praising God, the next we are cursing our brother who is made in the image of God. I have often heard an expression that goes something like this: “When you get jossled what comes out of
James 3:5-9 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens. In these verses James makes it clear just how wicked our tongues can be. He compares our sharp words to a raging fire that destroys everything in its path. We are capable of using our tongues to boast about ourselves as well as to reduce others to rubble on a whim. Once our tongues get to wagging