The Book of James: 5:1-6 (NLT)
Welcome back to our daily study in the book of James! I hope you have been enjoying this and feel free to invite friends and family who might find this helpful as well this year with the invite link here: Invitation Link
Need to catch up? We got you covered, simply go to the link below which will take you to our blog where all past bible studies will be. With that said let’s get started on day 25!
------------------------------
The Book of James (NLT): This book offers practical guidance on living a godly life, including instruction on how to handle temptation and overcome adversity. It is the 51st of the Bible book located in the New Testament containing 5 chapters and a total of 108 verses.
Author: James, the half-brother of Jesus
Theme: Practical guidance for living a faithful Christian life, with a focus on the importance of good deeds and living a life of faith. In addition to the themes of good deeds and living a life of faith, the Book of James also addresses issues such as temptation, humility, and the dangers of wealth and pride.
Timeline: The Book of James is believed to have been written in the mid-to-late first century AD
Structure: The Book of James is a letter, consisting of five chapters. It is written in a concise, straightforward style and is full of practical wisdom and guidance.
Recipients: The letter is addressed to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1), which likely refers to Jewish Christians living in the diaspora (outside of Palestine).
Importance: The Book of James is considered one of the most practical books in the New Testament and is often referred to as the "Proverbs of the New Testament." It offers valuable insights and guidance for Christians of all ages on how to live a faithful and obedient life.
------------------------------
Scripture Insights:
At first glance, you may think that James is condemning all rich people but he is condemning those that rely on their riches instead of the Lord. They use worldly methods such as paying very low wages and cheating those that have no power or influence to resist their mistreatment.
You can go back in history and see the many civilizations, including the United States, where human slavery was an accepted form of business. Thanks to many God fearing Christians and those against slavery the practice was ended and people were freed. Even the Jews during their stay in Egypt were slaves for 400 years until Moses came and brought them out with signs and wonders.
But what about today? There is a huge money-making market for human trafficking where innocent people including children are sold and used in the sex trade and have no power to resist. If they do, they may end up losing their lives. In countries around the world, people work for very low wages so that corporations can make big profits. Some ethnic groups are forced into labor that profit the business and government entities. There are still a lot of evil practices today and many rich people enjoying the spoils. But, they will have their day because God is a just God.
If you are in business or have wealth, put your trust in God and do your business and work God’s way. Be good to your employees and treat them how you want to be treated as an employee. There are many examples of rich and wealthy men and women of God in the Bible. They did not rely on their earthly riches, but the true riches which come from God.
------------------------------
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I am grateful for the eternal salvation you have bestowed upon me. Your love for me is immeasurable, and I know that you always want the best for me. In every challenge or situation, I trust in your unwavering presence and support. I have faith that you are always for me, never against me, and that you will never abandon me. I place my trust in the promises you have made for my life and believe that through you, I will see transformation in all aspects of my life in Jesus name Amen!
God Bless,
Dayne
PS. If you want to support me in a fun creative way consider supporting me with a coffee here: I do love coffee :)