NOTES for Jam 5:8-10

The Apostle James tells us today: “Do not grumble against one another.” Let us remember: how long has it been since we last said, “If it weren't for him...” “It's all his fault...” “How can anyone work with people like that?!” It would be good if it stopped there, but we often also say, “If it weren't for you...” Is it easy to refrain from such phrases? Is it easy not to look for someone to blame and not to complain, even if only to oneself? After all, this happens essentially automatically. And it is precisely this automatic response that we must do something about. To begin with, we can try not to say any of this aloud... and pray that the Lord will teach us not to seek someone to blame or complain, but simply to do our work as well as possible under the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

James values patient endurance highly. As an example to his contemporaries he sets both the ancient prophets and Job, the hero of the biblical book of the same name. Of course, Jesus Himself also warned His followers more than once about the inevitability of suffering. And if we take into account that the persecutions being discussed were understood more as the norm of Christian life than as isolated episodes, it becomes clear that one must prepare to endure, and to endure for a long time. But the matter still does not, apparently, come down only to the inevitability and practical necessity of patient endurance. In fact, on what does patient endurance depend at all? In principle, short-term suffering, even intense suffering, is often easier to bear than prolonged suffering, even when the prolonged suffering is not so intense. There is nothing surprising here: the resources of a healthy human organism are usually quite great, and with the proper motivation their short-term mobilization has the corresponding effect, sometimes allowing a person to endure even what had previously seemed unbearable. Of course, such motivation can be faithfulness to Christ, but not only that: emotional uplift, intellectual conviction, and religious exaltation are also possible. One cannot say that all this has nothing to do with spiritual life, for it presupposes a conscious choice and following a decision once made. But such spiritual life still does not go beyond the bounds of the world that has not yet been transformed. When, however, the matter concerns faithfulness to Christ and relationship with Him, one must speak directly of the life of the Kingdom, for relationship with Him is possible only in the Kingdom. And here we receive, in essence, an inexhaustible resource that allows us to endure difficulties and trials not merely for that short period during which human strength, not so very great after all, is exhausted, but for a long time, for which no human strength would suffice. That is why the apostle values precisely patient endurance during trials so highly: he bears witness to the quality of the spiritual life of the one who endures these trials. To a quality conditioned by the fact that his life, although it still takes place partly in our transforming but not yet fully transformed world, is nevertheless determined not by the laws of this world, but by the laws of the Kingdom.

The intensity with which James denounces the rich reaches its peak. But next we see an appeal to those being oppressed to be patient, and here numerous opponents of Christianity have often exclaimed: “Aha, working people must endure oppression! So you Christians are on the side of the exploiters!”

Yet an attentive and unbiased reading does not permit such an interpretation. Just protest against social evil does not contradict the apostle’s words; the epistle itself bears witness to this. Nor is patience required in order to encourage oppressors, but because they are already condemned if they do not repent. A violent protest against earthly evil has too often turned into a destructive revolt which, after bloodshed, ended in defeat and renewed enslavement. But persistent and patient defense of justice has often proved more fruitful and victorious. This, too, is labor, and it is impossible without patience. Labor is necessary under every social order, and therefore we must be patient until the coming of the Lord.

Here James also reminds us of the power of prayer, something every Christian knows in principle but which in practice is all too often underestimated. To those of us who do not consider ourselves capable of boldness in prayer, he points to the great prophet Elijah, unexpectedly calling him a man like us (rather than calling us people like him!). This means that the spiritual power the Lord gave Elijah He can give to us as well. If only we will receive it.

The apostle James uses the metaphor of rusted gold and silver to point not to the material side of life, but to the goals and meaning of every kind of accumulation. Accumulated experience, fame and recognition as a specialist, a great public figure, success in business, academic degrees - these are the very gold and silver that rust and will be a testimony against us. And the goals we set for ourselves are our treasure. They mean very little for the future. None of the successes of this world is required in order to love our neighbors, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. And for a believer, a churchgoing person who reads the Gospel, awareness of the smallness and inconspicuousness of our successes before the world and before God must become fundamental. When the Apostle says, "Lament and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom," he calls us to pay attention to the fact that we strive for joy and merriment, that we drive difficult and heavy thoughts away from ourselves. But there is no joy in the world. We carry joy in our hearts. And this joy is from God. He alone can grant it to us. Yet we look in this world for a substitute for relationship with Him. And we understand that we must do good, we feel the need for it, but the mercy we have shown and the help we have given do not bring us joy if through them we do not glorify God and thank Him for the opportunity to help and to be near someone in need.