James 5:1  Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
James 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
James 5:3  Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
James 5:4  Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
James 5:5  You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
James 5:6  You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

• Verses 7-8: Patience. We must be patient. It’s been said that patience is a virtue. Patience is not something we pray to receive; it is something we cultivate. Patience is a learned skill. We must practice it. Many verses instruct us on how to develop patience, often through our suffering. Those who avoid suffering usually lack patience.
• Verses 9-10: Why do we need patience? Because during these times, we will be pitted against each other. Those who are corrupt and taking advantage of us use narratives to divide us. This is an age-old tactic. If people believe that their brothers and sisters are their enemies, they will not recognize the corrupt rulers as the true enemies. These verses are telling us not to grumble among each other, or we will be condemned. Judgment is right at the door; do not allow yourself to be condemned as the corrupt will. Again, practice patience like the prophets did in the Old Testament.
• Verses 11-12: Those who endure with patience are blessed. Stay firm and committed to your word, not wavering. Do what you said you would do, do not follow the ways of the corrupt who say one thing but do another. We can see this today as the corrupt are waging their war against the people. Do everything to avoid being like them in their ways.
• Verses 13-15: God will meet our needs, regardless of what they are. Just stay focused on God regardless of the situation. In times of sickness, in health, in oppression. God is the answer. If you’re spending more time learning the deeds of the evil one rather than God, that is a problem that can lead you to condemnation as you learn more about his ways.
• Verses 16-18: Pray. Pray. Pray. The power of prayer is, well, mighty. Confess our sins we’ve committed against others and pray for healing. As we discussed above, we will be divided by a narrative. If we sin against one of our own, let’s confess it and seek forgiveness as Christ would. If we focus on being righteous in God’s eyes, our prayers are far more likely to be answered. If we disobey God, it is more likely that He may not answer our prayers, as we’ve shown ourselves not to put Him first.
• Verses 19-20: This chapter ends with saving sinners. That is our mission. Making disciples of the nations. We can come up with all the ways and scheme up ways in which we think this battle of oppression is won. But when we look at the lens of the bible being a guide to warfare (spiritual) it’s not won by protests, riots, war with weapons, etc. It’s won by training the future. It’s won by leading people to Christ and letting Him work within them. We’ve seen how that transformation changes people from Saul to Paul.