(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
JAMES CHAPTER 5: RICH ONES: WAIT FOR THE COMING JUDGMENT
(1 Timothy 6:9-10 [AKJV/PCE])
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It must be remembered that God owns it all anyways. We have two choices. We can have money or money can have us. "It is good to have things that money can buy, but only IF you already have the things money cannot buy" -Unknown. With the greedy who are wealthy, there is one thing that they never can have, get, attain to, obtain, E-N-O-U-G-H. What we give to God we get back, with interest. What we keep, we lose. (Proverbs 19:17). We know that this is speaking of believers here, because James repeats that they are brethren in his commands in verses seven, nine, ten, twelve, nineteen.
(Proverbs 13:22 [AKJV/PCE])
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
(Deuteronomy 24:14 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
(Deuteronomy 24:15 [AKJV/PCE])
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
(Leviticus 19:13 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
(Proverbs 19:17 [AKJV/PCE])
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
There is nothing wrong in Scripture, in any place, with being rich, but it comes with a boatload of potential issues and problems, as in poor stewardship, selfishness, avarice, wasting God's blessings, forgetting God because one then thinks they do not need Him. Wealth is merely a physical thing, and a few examples of those who had it in great abundance are,
Israel herself, for five thousand years now, generally, as a nation, especially today
Abraham
Job
David
Josiah
Philemon
Joseph of Arimathea
Lydia
(James 5:1 [AKJV/PCE])
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
This is one abasing and humbling himself or herself with their earthly wealth, acknowledging the origin of that blessing as God
This is the only life they will have, there is no trailer behind a hearse and the tombs of gold for the pharaohs never helped them, as they never took it with them, the grave robbers got nearly all of it, the rest is either in a museum or some place else, but not with the one who had it on earth
(Psalms 126:5 [AKJV/PCE])
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
(Proverbs 11:28 [AKJV/PCE])
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
(Luke 6:24-26 [AKJV/PCE])
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
(James 5:2 [AKJV/PCE])
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
The curse is upon all mankind, all things will perish, no exceptions
There is a better possession-ETERNAL LIFE, ETERNAL RICHES
(Matthew 6:19-21 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(Hebrews 1:11-12 [AKJV/PCE])
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
(James 5:3 [AKJV/PCE])
Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Imagine the miracle of total destruction of two things that we call "precious metals"!
Their wealth is doing them and no one else any good, as it is used for corrupt work, out of greed, avarice
Heaping treasure for the last days, as in "That's my retirement money, in that account!"
CANKER, n.
. A disease incident to trees, which causes the bark to rot and fall.
A popular name of certain small eroding ulcers in the mouth, particularly of children. They are generally covered with a whitish slough.
A virulent, corroding ulcer; or any thing that corrodes, corrupts or destroys. Sacrilege may prove an eating canker. And their word will eat as doth a canker. Tim. 2.
An eating, corroding, virulent humor; corrosion.
A kind of rose, the dog rose.
In farriery, a running thrush of the worst kind; a disease in horses feet, discharging a fetid matter from the cleft in the middle of the frog.
CANKER, v.i. To grow corrupt; to decay, or waste away by means of any noxious cause; to grow rusty, or to be oxydized, as a metal.
(James 5:4 [AKJV/PCE])
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
God gives us money to be good stewards with, to take care of others, so this is a definite evil, abusing the help to make more money
Matthew 25 below is a different example, but the same principle applies, because both are doing what God wants with what God gives us to do it with
The only reason anyone on earth has tremendous wealth is that God allowed it, in the end
(Matthew 25:14-30 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(James 5:5 [AKJV/PCE])
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
A day of slaughter means the day that there is a lot of meat available, a rich time of harvest
Again, God gives the blessing of animals reproducing after their kind, not us
Every day in their heart was like this, being rich, "enjoying the good life"
(James 5:6 [AKJV/PCE])
Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Christian or not, in those days, as in America today, the believers used their wealth to corrupt courts in their favor, not even thinking that some less fortunate would end up under this corruption giving their very lives by this very same corrupt court
And these less fortunate willingly went to the gallows, the prison cell, the sword
(James 5:7 [AKJV/PCE])
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Depending on wealth means not looking forward to the cankered gold, silver which will be replaced by streets of gold
We won't even need riches in heaven! We will be in heaven with the LORD Jesus Christ and that WILL BE ENOUGH
(Revelation 21:21 [AKJV/PCE])
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
(James 5:8 [AKJV/PCE])
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
We are in the last days, and that rapture is on its way very soon, so it is prudent to keep our eyes on the prize now more than ever.
Patience is the only solution to this, as we can do nothing to effect when, but wait, and wait we will, even if we do not want to
(James 5:9 [AKJV/PCE])
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Infighting, because of greed, exercise of one's own will, envy or any other reason, is not good
2,000 years ago, same as today
This is envy here, not about holding a grudge
There are always consequences for our actions, as in this life and the day of judgment for rewards, as in losing them
GRUDGE', v.t. [L. rugio.]
To be discontented at another's enjoyments or advantages; to envy one the possession or happiness which we desire for ourselves. 'Tis not in thee To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train. I have often heard the presbyterians say, they did not grudge us our employments. It is followed by two objects, but probably by ellipsis; as, grudge us for grudge to us.
To give or take unwillingly. Nor grudge my cold embraces in the grave. They have grudged those contributions, which have set our country at the head of all the governments of Europe.
GRUDGE, v.i. To murmur; to repine; to complain; as, to grudge or complain of injustice.
To be unwilling or reluctant. Not to serve your country.
To be envious. Grudge not one against another. James 5.
To wish in secret. [Not used nor proper.]
To feel compunction; to grieve. [Not in use.]
GRUDGE, n. Sullen malice or malevolence; ill will; secret enmity; hatred; as an old grudge.
Unwillingness to benefit.
Remorse of conscience.
(James 5:10 [AKJV/PCE])
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Most were rejected, many were beaten, some were outright killed by their very own people they were trying to warn!
They were patient, waiting for that fulfillment, or they toojk the imprisonment, the torture, the suffering, beating
Many never saw the fulfillment, but were merely obedient to God to proclaim it
THE PROFITS OF THE PROPHETS
(1 Kings 19:14 [AKJV/PCE])
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(Acts 7:52 [AKJV/PCE])
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(Matthew 23:34-35 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
(Matthew 10:17 [AKJV/PCE])
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
(John 16:2 [AKJV/PCE])
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(Hebrews 11:36-39 [AKJV/PCE])
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
(1 Kings 22:23 [AKJV/PCE])
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
(1 Kings 22:24 [AKJV/PCE])
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
(1 Kings 18:13 [AKJV/PCE])
Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
(Nehemiah 9:26 [AKJV/PCE])
Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
(1 Kings 19:2 [AKJV/PCE])
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
(2 Kings 6:31 [AKJV/PCE])
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
(Matthew 14:8-11 [AKJV/PCE])
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
(James 5:11 [AKJV/PCE])
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
The entire first thirty seven chapters of Job are all about what he had to endure, with children and wealth gone, a wife who mocked his faith, three "friends" who ignorantly blamed Job himself for what was happening to him, the innocent victim
He had no one left but God, really, but when that is the case, we discover that God is all we need, and God came through and blessed him twice over for his patient, faithful endurance
(James 5:12 [AKJV/PCE])
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
This is a heart issue, like a marriage vow broken, saying "I DO" when it really means, "I MIGHT" or "I DO, for now, until such time as....."
This is the same with all oaths, before a court, a friend, a parent, an employer
"I swear to God________________" is what the world uses constantly, but not what we are called to say, because we are invoking God who is not going to do it, because we are going to do it, and really are not but, rather just saying we are, making God look bad, not us
(James 5:13 [AKJV/PCE])
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Many were afflicted then and many are afflicted today, with many more to come
We have our salvation if nothing else to be joyful over and reading the psalms is a comfort, often
(James 5:14 [AKJV/PCE])
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Many are sick today in America, probably over 90% because of bad eating, prescription drugs (which are not medicines), by not being good stewards over their own bodies, but letting others be in charge over their bodies
However, when we abuse our bodies in such a bad manner, we must also repent and change our ways, not just pray, as our bodies are utterly polluted, with non-germ based diseases running rampant, obesity, etc.
This is called abusing grace
If we pray and are willing to start treating our bodies as though they are the temple of the Holy Ghost (they are), then God will answer, yes, no, maybe, or take us home, if He wills
(James 5:15 [AKJV/PCE])
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
If that person is repentant, rueful, sorrowful, then that will happen
However, if that person wants to continue to abuse their body with dangerous chemicals, then God will allow the natural course of pollution ruin their health
It is hard to ask forgiveness for sin, because we often do not want to change
If it is a sin, and that is not our character and lifestyle, then it is not hard but, if it is in our own lust, then it is hard
God is always willing, waiting to answer our true, honest prayer of repentance, ar we willing to repent and ask in faith, truly ask?
(James 5:16 [AKJV/PCE])
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Confessing "one to another" means back and forth, not one way, like the R.C.C. teaches us, that we confess to a "priest" and they do not confess to us
(James 5:17-18 [AKJV/PCE])
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
This is again showing that it is God's grace alone, not our goodness, that does a single thing for us
We hinder our prayers by our sin, we gracefully recive the answers we seek by our repentance
God did not bring rain because Israel had prophets of Baal and their priests that they followed
When Elijah slew the prophets of Baal after they failed before Israel's own eyes that they were false, then the rains came back
It was the prayer of faith by a righteous man Elijah combined with the repentance, recognizing sin, asking forgiveness, not works, that brougght back the rain
This is all in 1 Kings 17:1 on until the end of 1 Kings 18:46
ELIJAH THE TISHBITE
(1 Kings 17:1 [AKJV/PCE])
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
(Luke 4:25 [AKJV/PCE])
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
(1 Kings 18:1 [AKJV/PCE])
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
(1 Kings 18:40-45 [AKJV/PCE])
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. ¶ And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
(James 5:19-20 [AKJV/PCE])
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
This is today our ministry here in America, as many have erred from the truth, many more follow them, and few try to correct them, convert them, ans so it continues, festers, perpetuates, grows
