God Will Heal You (James 5:12-20) Series

Let's start today by reading James 5:12:

(12) Now, above all, my brothers, don't take an oath, either by heaven nor by earth, nor any other oath.

Now, your "yes" must be "yes" and your "no," "no,"

in order that under judgment you don't fall ["under judgment" is focused].

As you go through life, you will hear people make oaths, once in a while. I feel like they are less commonly done today, in our society, than they used to be. But you still hear them. When people make oaths, they usually come out using slightly rough language. "God help me, I'm telling the truth." "I swear to you I didn't do it." "I swear on my mother's grave I'll do it."

If we stop and think about the oaths we hear, and maybe the oaths we've made, we can maybe think of two different reasons why we'd make an oath. I mean, apart from being a witness or defender in a court case.

(1) The first reason, is to convince someone you are telling the truth. Sometimes people want to believe you, but for one reason or another, they are struggling. You can use an oath to tip the scales, and give them a little nudge in the right direction.

(2) The second reason you might use an oath is to convince someone you will keep a promise. Maybe you're asking someone for a favor, and promising them you'll make it up to them. An oath can help persuade people you'll do what you say.

What these two reasons have in common, is that oaths are a way to compensate for being a little untrustworthy. Oaths are for people who have cried wolf in the past, or who have burned people by not keeping a promise, or who flat-out deceived people.

If you've done this to someone in the past, an oath is a way of signaling that this time is different. This time, you're being honest. This time, you'll keep your word.

And what James is saying here, in verse 12, is that none of this should be necessary. We are, by new nature, supposed to be truth-telling people. When we speak, people trust us. They don't wonder if this is one of those times when we are bending the truth to make ourselves look better, or persuade them to do something they shouldn't.

If you live this at work, and at home, and anywhere you go, you will develop a reputation as being a truth-teller. You may have other warts, and flaws. You might still be a work in progress, as far as character development goes. But you speak the truth.

Now, if you live this way, there's a few different benefits to this. When God commands us to tell the truth, He's pointing us toward a good path to take in life.

You'll find, if you are a truth-teller, that people trust you. You'll find that people are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt. You'll find that you are the type of person who people want to be friends with-- depending on your other warts (smirking).

But above all these, James tells us another benefit of being truth-telling people, who don't take oaths. Let's reread verse 12:

(12) Now, above all, my brothers, don't take an oath, either by heaven nor by earth, nor any other oath.

Now, your "yes" must be "yes" and your "no," "no,"

in order that under judgment you don't fall ["under judgment" is focused].

If you live this way, you won't fall under God's judgment. because you don't fall under judgment. When you guarantee your speech with an oath, you are inviting God to do terrible things to you, if you are being deceitful, or if you don't keep your word. You're asking God to guarantee your words.

You don't need to do that. Don't do it.

Verse 13a:

(13) Is anyone suffering among you?

He should pray.

This seems obvious, right? If life is falling apart all around you, that's a great time to call out to God, and ask him what's he's doing, and ask him for help.

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The word for suffering here: Brill: ????p????, contr. ?a??pa??? impf. ??a??p????? ? fut. ?a??pa??s?, mid. ?a??pa??s?µa? P LOND. 1.98r.73 (I-IICE) ? aor. ??a??p???sa ? pf. ?e?a??p????a; to be in a bad state, be in dire straits, undergo humiliations or hurts, suffer

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Sometimes, we get so caught up in our suffering, we lose all perspective. Or, we somehow started to believe that God won't help. So James encourages you-- if you're suffering, pray. Your prayers are not wasted words. Your prayers, will move God to help you.

Verse 13b:

Is anyone joyful/cheerful?

He should sing songs of praise.

When you're in a good mood, that's a great time to praise God. When the sun is shining, and it's just the right temperature, and your day is going great, and every step you take is a good one, sing to God. That kind of mood naturally lends itself to great worship. Enjoy the good days, and use the good days to praise God.