LIVING WITH INTEGRITY
Opening Prayer
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Read JAMES 5:1–12
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Footnotes
- James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How challenging is it for you to tell the truth in every situation?As a nation, we have become increasingly cynical about the honesty of our politicians, suspicious about the motives of large corporations, and even dubious about those we rely on daily for health, financial, and household support. Who can we trust? It sometimes feels as though our lives are governed by those described as living ‘on earth in luxury and self-indulgence’ (v. 5), without regard for the common good of society.
Living with integrity begins by being truthful in all areas of our lives and letting our ‘Yes’ be yes and our ‘No’ be no (v. 12). Truth and trust are intimately connected. We learn to trust those who we know are telling us the truth. James goes further to emphasize the importance of truth-telling, by warning against using oaths, or invoking the name of God. In all of our words we should seek to be truthful and, therefore, trustworthy.
Oaths are not prohibited in Scripture (e.g., Numbers 30:2), but James was writing to Jews who were abusing God’s name and not following through on their promises, thus defaming the name and character of God. The important message here is that truthful communication provides building blocks for healthy relationships. This means walking honestly with God, in humility and vulnerability, so others will see God’s truth reflected in our lives.
Apply
How do your standards measure up to those held in Scripture — those taught by Jesus himself?
Closing prayer
Father, guard my heart; help me to grow in honesty and integrity.
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