Wait to Go

James 5:7-12

James starts this section off with another therefore, so lets recap. James just explained how the rich oppress the poor and yet they are expected to remain faithful. Ok now, "Therefore be patient brethren until the coming of the Lord." James is telling the churches that while times are hard and they are treated un justly, Justice is coming. With this he also gives them instruction to strengthen their hearts because we know not the time He is returning.

Job is used as an illustration to show how God is always faithful and merciful even in the hardest of times. Having his family die and being stripped of all his wealth the only thing Job had was God. Even with the advice of his friends to curse God, Job remained faithful and God blessed him through his trials.

James gives them all this encouragement then in his typical fashion leaves with a warning. His warning is that for the people to let their "yes" be "yes" and "no" be "no". We know that justice will be coming to the people who have wronged us. By the same token we can no put ourselves in the same boat as the wrong doers by making empty promises. Yes take peace in the fact that the Lord is coming again. We have been warned though, that we need to prepare our hearts and begin to back our words with our life.