The Book/Letter of James is, in my experience, often neglected by preachers and Bible readers, and that is a shame. Martin Luther didn’t much like it – too much about works and not enough about grace, I reckon – but the message is deeply necessary for our church now. To be honest, I don’t agree with everything James wrote. For example, he tells believers to never doubt, which I think isn’t just unhealthy, it is impossible! His message about doing for people in need, however, rather than just sharing “thoughts and prayers”, is timely. James is also believed to have been the head of the mother church in Jerusalem and – sorry if you were taught otherwise – Jesus’s actual genetic brother. In fact, Mark 3:31 tells us that Jesus’s mom and brothers (maybe sisters too?) showed up to take Him away because people were saying He was out of His mind. That’s for another day.
From the first chapter of James on, the writer tells the audience that the rich will wither away and the poor will be raised up. In chapter 2 he criticizes church folk for favoring rich people while disrespecting the poor. He even points out that it is the rich, not the poor, who drag you into court and take what little you have left. He ends his criticism of the rich in chapter 5 by warning them that they will suffer for their disrespect and abuse, and that in causing the poor pain, they have attacked Jesus Himself, which is very Matthew 25-ish. James also tells everyone that coveting what others have will get them in deep trouble spiritually, and we know that anyone can be guilty of that. Still, it is the rich who get the bulk of his – and Jesus’ – criticism.
I don’t think anyone in the church thought wealth was intrinsically evil, but I do think they were concerned about how it is gained and used. Anyone can live a life without generosity; it doesn’t matter how much you have, rich or poor, if you have a stingy heart. James, though, was challenging the rich in tangible ways, and while he didn’t call for income redistribution (a very woke idea), he made it clear that the rich who did not share their wealth generously (Jesus and Paul urged this as well) would suffer in the afterlife. Make a great living but remember those who helped you get there. Or else. Because there is no room in heaven for those who abuse the poor.
Prayer – Holy God, we are grateful for opportunities to live well. Remind us daily that none of us succeeds alone – we are called to share and live generously. Amen.
Today’s art is “Joy of Sharing” by Ragunath Venkatraman.