Zoom out first, and then zoom back in.

Christine DiGiacomo
Aug 30
5 min read

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2b78ca3f/zoom-out-first-then-zoom-in-james-no24

She read the first few verses of James 5

and thought, 'Man, I don't need this in my life -

forget this chapter! What in the world is this?'

But for the one who wants to know what James had to say in his practical little book, it helps to know several things--particularly when the reading gets tough, like now. So before we take a look at his writing, we do well to know (or remember) these things; in fact, these are wise considerations no matter what passage we set out to read in Scripture.

1) Who is the author?

2) What is the cultural context and approximate time period?

3) What is the genre? history, prophecy, poetry, gospel/biography, letter

4) What is the focus and/or purpose of the writing?

*bear in mind > the entire Bible points to God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

James was likely the first New Testament letter written, sometime between AD 44 and 49, to Jewish Christians who fled persecution in Jerusalem. And since those believers were not present for Sunday sermons or even midweek small groups, James wrote to them about living obediently and faithfully in the practical matters of every day life.

In my last Morning Briefing, "A Good and True Word for Today", https://conta.cc/46o4WpZ,

I recounted several of those valuable truths from chapters one through four--things such as asking God for wisdom, what to do in times of trial, seeking God for wisdom, being careful with our words and so much more.

With these things in mind, what do you notice about these first verses of chapter 5?

But first, before you read Scripture, a prayer:

"Lord, please open my heart and mind so I can understand what is being said and why. Amen!"

James writes:

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you."1

Dang. What does it all mean? First, God has nothing against the rich, nor does he have anything against people having money. However, fraudulent behavior such as the withholding of wages owed to workers, as well as murder for gain or any reason, was condemned in this passage. (which means of course, both must have been going on)

Zooming back out, money, our treasure, is another topic Jesus addressed in the Sermon on the Mount, where he tells his followers, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."2

We do not have to have college degrees to know that what Jesus said is true: for so many of us, where our treasure is, there is our heart also; people's hearts/value/priorities are oft tied to their money. And because of that, we compare, then covet, envy and resent others. My friends, this ought not be so.

What does God want Christians to do with their money? He wants his children to be the most generous people around, saying He loves cheerful givers.3 ‘To whom much is given, much will be required.’4 We are to take care of the poor and needy, which includes widows and children...

Why, look what Jesus taught:

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’5

And for those 'on his left' who ignore these, cursing...punishment.

Followers of Jesus ought give to the work of the Lord, including the work of their church, the spread of the Gospel, and to the people who teach us.6

You know, when Jesus taught ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself,’7 He was not just talking about our feelings, something held only within our hearts. No, love requires something of us. In my best James' voice, I say, 'Come now,' or 'Listen, Friends'

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Love requires that we give of ourselves—precisely because we love. Think a moment--are you a generous person? Now I am not just talking about money or possessions, but also giving of your time, your talent, and your touch, along with your treasure. Every day we can find countless ways—great and small—to make someone’s life better.8 Will you join me in looking for these ways?